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Seismic hazard in Nicaragua: a case study of Managua

Authors

  • Ilton Jardim de Carvalho Jr.
  • J.M. Salmerón Muñoz
No. 52 (2016)
https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5370.2016.44732

Abstract

Nicaragua, Central American country of 6.2 million people, is known for its large lakes and active volcanoes. Yet, the country has a long history of destruction caused by successive strong earthquakes, due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire in the subduction zone of the Cocos plate under the Caribbean plate. As such, Managua, the capitol, with 1.480.000 million inhabitants, is the most susceptible area to disasters, as a result of hundreds of faults that cause frequent earthquakes. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the risks that the city of Managua faces of suffering material and human losses, in the event of an extreme natural disaster, by describing the tectonic-volcanic conditions of the country, taking as theoretical reference the concepts of natural hazards and natural disasters. The empirical section analyzes data from Nicaraguan scientific institutes and specialized literature, from which an overview of the types of geological hazards that prevail in the country is laid out. By focusing on seismic hazards and on some tragic episodes in the history of geological disasters,the paper aims to contribute to the current body of knowledge necessary for the definition of mitigation and prevention policies of seismic and volcanic geological disasters.

Keywords:

Natural disasters, seismic hazard, Nicaragua, Managua, Earthquakes.

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How to Cite
Jardim de Carvalho Jr., I., & Salmerón Muñoz, J. (2016). Seismic hazard in Nicaragua: a case study of Managua. Investigaciones Geográficas, (52), pp. 121–138. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5370.2016.44732
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Investigaciones Geográficas
Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo
Universidad de Chile
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