August 11, 1831 Earthquake: Barbados, Saint Vincent, Dominica, Antigua
An earthquake struck Barbados, Saint Vincent, Dominica, Antigua on August 11, 1831. It killed 3,000 people.
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 11, 1831
- Place
- Barbados, Saint Vincent, Dominica, Antigua
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 13.100° N, 59.617° W
- Country
- Barbados
The toll
- Deaths
- 3,000
- 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.
August 11, 1831, Bridgetown in Barbadoes and in Jamaica. During a violent hurricane which raged over the West indies, especially Antigua, St. Vincent, Dominica, Guadeloupe, and Barbadoes. It lasted from 2:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Barbadoes suffered at once from the hurricane, the earthquake, and a volcanic eruption. 3000 persons perished altogether. (reference #497)
August 11, 1831, West indies, Bridgetown in Barbadoes and in Jamaica, especially in Antigua, St. Vincent, Dominica, Guadeloupe and Barbadoes; also hurricane, intensity III which corresponds to an earthquake which destroyed towns and devastated districts.
(reference #1055)
August 10 or 11, 1831, in Barbados, during an excessively violent hurricane ground tremors accompanied terrible electric effects. One report of 3000 is the number of people who perished in the damaged dwellings. There was a hurricane, earthquake and volcanic eruption. (reference #501)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
More
Significant earthquakes of 1831The 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 1744.