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Caribbean Earthquake Reference Model

Although better known for its frequent hurricanes, the Caribbean is subject to frequent large magnitude earthquakes. The high resolution KCC Caribbean Earthquake Reference Model captures the full range of potential future events that could impact the region.

Highlights

Regional Variability

KCC engineers develop comprehensive damage functions to account for unique construction trends and codes by location

Spatially Unbiased

KCC Characteristic Event (CE) methodology avoids sampling bias and provides full and consistent geographic coverage

Accurate Risk Metrics

High-resolution event footprints provide the most comprehensive and accurate risk metrics for insurers and reinsurers

2010 Haiti Earthquake
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Caribbean Earthquake Snapshot

Most of the seismic activity in the Caribbean occurs along the Lesser Antilles arc, although few of these events over the past century have been greater than M7.0. Other seismicity occurs predominantly along the plate boundaries to the north and south and along major crustal faults in the Hispaniola-Puerto Rico region. The two largest earthquakes to occur in the northern Caribbean since 1900 were the 1946 M7.76 Samana earthquake in northeastern Hispaniola and the 1943 M7.70 Mona Passage earthquake. The largest earthquake to occur in the southern Caribbean during this time was the 2018 M7.30 event near the northern coast of Venezuela.

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Explore KCC’s Earthquake Models by Region

Manage Your Earthquake Risk in the Caribbean

KCC utilizes the best available data, science, and technology to create high resolution, accurate, and transparent global catastrophe models that allow you to make decisions with confidence.

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