October 24, 1765 Earthquake: Chiquimula, Quetzaltepeque, Guatemala
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Chiquimula, Quetzaltepeque, Guatemala on October 24, 1765.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- October 24, 1765
- Place
- Chiquimula, Quetzaltepeque, Guatemala
- Magnitude
- 7.5
- Intensity
- 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 13.550° N, 92.550° W
- Country
- Guatemala
The toll
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1766. Considerable damage in two distant cities, Chiquimula and Quetzaltenango. (reference #1107) [Note: likely references 1765 April 20 event and Oct 24 event]
1765 Oct 24. VIII+: Ostuncalco to Tacana (G); VII+: San Marcos; VII: Chiapas (M) to Quezaltenango (G). buildings fell; aftershocks to 11/01; churches badly damaged or ruined [duration 7-8 min] (reference #14066)
Reference #14059:
October 24, ‘San Rafael’ earthquake, strong tremors originating in Quetzaltenango, caused serious damage in the departments of Suchitepequez and Antigua.
June 21 (April 20) destroyed Chiquimula, tremor in Jalapa.
October 24, San Rafael earthquakes, damage in the provinces of Suchitepequez, Quetzaltenango, and Antigua.
The extent of the damaged area, the geological effects and its 10-day aftershock period suggest its origin in the western segment of the subduction zone.
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- April 19, 1902, Quezaltenango, San Marcos, Guatemala
- November 7, 2012, San Marcos, San Cristobal Cochu, Guatemala
- June 14, 2017, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepequez, Mexico, Guatemala
- July 7, 2014, San Marcos, Mexico, Guatemala
- October 27, 1979, Guatemala
- February 16, 2022, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala, Quezaltenango
- September 7, 2013, Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
- September 10, 1993, Chiapas, Southwest, Mexico, Guatemala
- October 23, 1950, San Marcos, Guatemala
- July 17, 2026, Chiapas, Guatemala, Mexico
- February 1, 2019, San Marcos, Chiapas, Guatemala, Mexico
- December 14, 1935, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Guatemala, Mexico
- January 5, 2008, Colomba, Flores, Costa Cuca, Guatemala
- January 10, 1998, Quezaltenango, San Marcos, Solola, Guatemala
- August 6, 1942, Near S Coast, Guatemala
More
Significant earthquakes of 1765The 1700sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 1377.