Earthquake of magnitude 6.2 in Nicaragua

By Mary McInerney, Country Director, Save the Children in Nicaragua 11.04.2014, Managua Nicaragua

An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 on the Richter Scale occurred yesterday, Thursday, April 10, at 5: 27 pm, the entire Pacific coast of Nicaragua, particularly in Managua.  The epicenter was Mateare, which is approximately 20 kilometers north of the capital, near the volcano Apoyeque, on the shores of Lake Managua, with a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 

The consequences were during the next week were:

• 2 people died
• 44 injured
•  3,775 houses have been damaged
• 600 families in shelters
• 3,000 families living with relatives
• 3 activated shelters (one in Managua and two Mateare) 
•  32 damaged health infrastructure. 
• 52 affected schools

Since yesterday at 5:27 pm until 11:00 am today, there have been 1, 500 replications, many of them quite strong, 5.1, 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, etc…  The fault that was activated after the 6.2 earthquake yesterday was the same that was activated in the 1972 earthquake that caused about 12,000 deaths.  The earthquake interrupted power supply in the capital and telecommunications.

ORTEDA DECLARED RED ALERT

Today, Friday, April 11, the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega declared red alert Friday. He ordered the suspension of classes in the departments of Managua and Leon. The government ordered the evacuation of people still living around the rubble of the old centre of the capital was destroyed by the 1972 earthquake, approximately 2Km from the Save the Children office in Managua.  

President Ortega said he decided to raise the alert level because the earthquake “has caused damage to a large area of our country”, mainly Nagarote Mateare and Managua.  He has now requested the evacuation and closing of all government buildings in the old town center – right by our office.  And has asked for all business to close no later than 3:00pm today.

The Executive Secretariat of SINAPRED, the National System for Prevention, Mitigation and Attention to Disasters, through their delegates in departments and municipalities of Nicaragua, in coordination with the Sector Working Committees are now implementing emergency plans in the municipalities that are affected.  They are also maintaining constant communication regarding the situation with SINAPRED.

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