May 7, 1842 Tsunami: Cap-Haitian

1842, May 7. At Port-de-Paix, the sea receded 60m, and the returning wave covered the city with 5m of water killing 200 to 300 of the city's 3,000 residents. The tsunami affected a large geographic area. Please refer to the various runup "Comments" for more information.

May 7, 1842. Hispanola. Destructive earthquake reported from Mole Saint-Nicolas, Cap-Haitien (19 deg 46 min N., 72 deg l3 min W.), Port-de-Paix (19 deg 57 min N., 72 deg 50 min W.), Fort-Liberte (19 deg 40 min N., 7l deg 51 min W.), and Santiago de los Caballeros (19 deg 30 min N., 70 deg 42 min W.). A destructive tsunami struck, the north coast of the Island. (reference #43)

1842, May 7. West Indies, Santo Domingo, especially at Cap Haitien, also at Mole-St.-Nicolas, Port de Paix, Fort Liberte, and Santiago de los Caballeros. On north coast of Haiti there was a destructive tidal wave. At Port de Paix the sea withdrew 60 meters and upon returning covered city with 5 meters of water. (reference #132)

1842, May 7, 17:30 LT. 19.7 N, 72.8 W, 7.7 MS. A strong earthquake caused extreme damage, generated a tsunami, and killed 4,000-5,000 people. At Haiti, the destructive tsunami struck the northern coast. At Mole Saint-Nicolas [probably damage only from the earthquake], and Cap-Haitien, extensive destruction was caused by the earthquake and tsunami. At Port-de-Paix, the sea receded 60 m, and the returning wave covered the city with 5 m of water killing 200-300 of the city's 3,000. At Santo Domingo, 2 m waves were observed. The tsunami was observed at Forte-Liberte and Santiago de los Caballeros [unlikely since it is located 40-5 km from the coast]. At St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, the height was 3.1 m. Waves of 2 m caused destruction on the north coast of Hispaniola. Note the large area of this event, but that no tsunami report is available from locations such as Puerto Rico, although there are reports from Haiti and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (reference #537)

1842, May 7, 5h30min p.m. Cap-Haitien, Santiago de Los Cabelleros, Port-de-Paix-Mole Saint-Nicolas. Castastrophe: 5 to 6000 deaths. Complete destruction of cities. Tsunami along the Atlantic coast. Earthquake felt throughout the island and Santiago de Cuba. (reference #10684)

The earthquake of May 7, 1842, was one of the most severe

recorded on the island. Destruction was greatest at Cap Haitien, a city of 10,000 inhabitants, which lost half of its population. The intensity was almost equally as high at Mole St. Nicolas, Port de Paix, Fort Liberte and Santiago de los Caballeros, all of which were destroyed with the loss of several thousands of lives. At Cap Haitien waves dashed against buildings along the quay; at Port de Paix the sea withdrew 60 m. and, upon returning, buried the city under 4 or 5 m. of water. The bed of the Yaqui River is

said to have been suddenly elevated, driving its waters both up and down stream. The shock was severe at Santiago de Cuba and was felt throughout the length of the Sierra Maestra. The distribution of intensities and the phenomena of the sea-wave indicate that the earthquake was caused by a vertical displacement along a fault passing between Tortuga Island and St. Nicholas Peninsula. (reference #534)