Destructive tsunamis and tsunami warming in Central America

• Published in: Science of tsunami hazards 1999-01, Vol.17 (3), p.173-187
• Main Authors: Fernandez, M, Havskov, J, Atakan, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 8755-6839

The Central American Coasts have been hit by nine destructive tsunamis during the last two centuries. Seven of these tsunamis are from the Pacific and two from the Caribbean. Reported damages range from coastal and ship damage to destruction of small towns. Almost 500 people have been killed by these tsunamis. The Pacific coast of Central America has higher tsunami hazard than the Caribbean Coast. Tectonic environments that generate tsunamigenic earthquakes are the Middle American Trench, the Polochic-Motagua Fault System and the North Panama Deformed Belt (NPDB). A Tsunami Warning System for Central America has been designed (Fernandez, 1998). This system uses earthquake magnitude as the trigger for tsunami warning. Three institutions are involved in this system: The Instituto de Estudios Territoriales de Nicaragua (INETER), The Central American Seismological Center (CASC) and the National Emergency Office (NEO) of each country. CASC locates the earthquake and determines the magnitude and sends the seismic information to INETER. This institution evaluates the seismic information and decides if the earthquake has potential to generate a tsunami. In the event of a tsunamigenic earthquake INETER issues a tsunami warning which is sent to the National Emergency Office (NEO). NEO actives the local emergency plan and takes actions to protect coastal residents.