September 29, 1717 Earthquake: Antigua, Guatemala

1717 Sept 19, 19:00 (local). According to Perez Valenzuela (1934), the earthquakes of 27 August 1717 and 29 September of the same year were so severe that the capital of Guatemala was on the point of being moved to another site. Damage was estimated at $345,050 (monetary unit unknown). (reference #124)

1717 Sept 29. VIII+: Patzicia to Guazacapan, VII-: Mazatenango to Jilotepeque to Palin. 3000+ houses, all churches ruined or destroyed (reference #14066)

Reference #14059:

August 18 and November, eruption of the Fuego volcano, tremors on 29 and 30 September and 4 October with damage in the capital (San Miguel tremors).

September 29, strong earthquake in the capital at 7 p.m. followed by a series of aftershocks that seriously affected several churches and collapsed some dilapidated houses.

September 30, at 9 a.m., strong tremor that damaged a large part of the capital city, with material damage and loss of life.

San Miguel earthquakes sequence of several seismic and volcanic events occurred between August and October 1717. Initially there was an eruption of the Fuego volcano, possible strombolian and volcanic phases, apparently culminating on 28 September, and on 29 September, between 18 and 21 hours, three strong earthquakes occurred, successively increasing in violence and intensity. There was an aftershock of considerable magnitude on 3 October; the aftershock period lasted a little over three weeks (?). A tsunami is reported to have occurred on the Pacific coast off Iztapa, but the extent of the damaged area suggests its origin in the central segment of the subduction zone.

[Note: tsunami cited may reference the erroneous event of 1773]