August 6, 1951 Earthquake: Jinotega, Gulf of Fonseca, Nicaragua

On August 6, 1951, reports from the town of Jinotega [13.1 N, 86.0 W], capital of the department of the same name, indicate that an earthquake that morning caused heavy damage. Some houses were destroyed, others severely damaged, but no loss of life was reported. The U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey gives the time as 08h 08m 56s U.T.C., with provisional epicenter and focus the same as that of August 3, 1951 [13 N, 87.5 W, depth 100 km].

Reference #1199 lists magnitude 5.5

Reference #11823: San Rafael del Norte, 6. - Series of earthquakes in this town. Today at 2am, an new and strong earthquake alarmed them. - Correspondent F. Rivera. (1951 August 7, Tuesday. La Prensa newspaper.)

Strong earthquakes last night in Chinandega. Chinandega, 7. This night at the first hours, two strong earthquakes shook the population. The inhabitants, scared, slept in the streets, as they fear more earthquakes and loss of life. Until, now none has occurred. - Correspondent Albir.

Telephone message from our correspondent in Chinandega, Guerreo Albir, in the first hours of the night yesterday, informs us that at 6am no earthquakes had occurred in the city but in Puerto Morazan in the region of Cosiguina they have continued. In Puerto Morazan, last night 11 earthquakes were felt, four of which were of great intensity. It is confirmed that "San Juan" volcano, which continues to emit smoke, has produced all of these earthquakes. (1951 August 8, Wednesday. La Flecha newspaper.)