August 15, 1802 Earthquake: Cumana, Venezuela
An earthquake struck Cumana, Venezuela on August 15, 1802. It caused a tsunami.
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
- August 15, 1802
- Place
- Cumana, Venezuela
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 10.300° N, 64.500° W
- Country
- Venezuela
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Earthquakes at Cumana, Venezuela, reportedly caused the water of the Orinco River to rise, and left part of the river bed dry.
1802, August 15. Venezuela, Cumana. Intensity II which corresponds to buildings may be unroofed or shattered and some may fall, the ground may be badly cracked in places and small landslips occur. (reference #1055)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 14, 1797, Cumana, Cariaco, Venezuela
- July 15, 1853, Cumana, Venezuela
- July 9, 1997, Cariaco-Cumana, Venezuela
- January 17, 1929, Cumana, Venezuela
- October 29, 1900, Macuto, Venezuela
- June 12, 1974, Venezuela
- August 21, 2018, Sucre, Trinidad, Venezuela
- September 1, 1530, Cumana, Venezuela
- September 20, 1968, Carupano, Venezuela
- June 11, 1986, Venezuela
- 1543, Cumana, Isla Cubagua, Venezuela
- 1750, Cumana, Venezuela
- January 27, 1805, Cumana, Venezuela
- April 12, 1839, Cumana, Venezuela
- November 4, 1932, Cumana, Venezuela
More
Significant earthquakes of 1802The 1800sRecent 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 6519.