Appendix 1: History of Natural Disasters in Central America
|
YEAR |
COUNTRY |
NAME/TYPE |
DAMAGE |
|
2020 |
Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá |
Hurricane Eta |
Category 4 Hurricane that left 172 dead. |
|
2018 |
Guatemala |
Fuego Volcano |
Deadliest eruption in Guatemala. It left little evacuation time and led to the deaths of almost 200 people. Largest eruption of the volcano in 44 years. |
|
2015 |
Guatemala |
Landslide |
Heavy rains led to a massive landslide in El Cambray Dos. Over 280 people were killed and most of the village was leveled. |
|
2010 |
Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras |
Tropical storm Agatha |
204 deaths, $1.1 billion in damages. Triggered mudslides and in Guatemala, a massive sinkhole. Guatemala was the most affected country and had the most fatalities. |
|
2009 |
Nicaragua |
Hurricane Ida |
Ida killed 199 people, displaced 15,000, and damaged 2,350 homes. |
|
2007 |
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua |
Hurricane Felix |
170 mph winds, 189 deaths. |
|
2005 |
Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala |
Hurricane Stan |
The most affected country was Guatemala which suffered 1,500 fatalities. |
|
2001 |
El Salvador |
Earthquake |
A 7.7 earthquake that caused 844 deaths and 5,565 injuries. 108,261 houses were destroyed and 150,000 buildings were damaged. The earthquake was accompanied by destructive landslides that increased the death toll as well as thousands of aftershocks. |
|
2000 |
Belize |
Hurricane Keith |
Category 4 Hurricane with winds up to 155 mph. |
|
1998 |
Nicaragua |
Cristobal Volcano |
Eruption and mudslide caused 1,620 deaths. |
|
1998 |
Honduras, Belize, Guatemala |
Hurricane Mitch |
Winds up to 180 mph. Death toll of more than 11,000. |
|
1996 |
Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador |
Hurricane Cesar-Douglas |
Around 100 people were killed in the affected Central American countries. |
|
1993 |
Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize |
Hurricane Gert |
116 deaths. |
|
1992 |
Nicaragua |
León Earthquake and tsunami |
A 7.2 earthquake triggered a tsunami. 116 were killed. |
|
1991 |
Costa Rica |
Limón Earthquake |
Strongest recorded earthquake in the country’s history, 7.7. Caused flooding and 125 deaths. |
|
1988 |
Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala |
Hurricane Joan |
148 deaths in Nicaragua. |
|
1986 |
El Salvador |
Earthquake |
1,000 were killed. |
|
1982 |
Honduras, Nicaragua |
Aletta tropical storm |
Tropical storm Aletta caused 308 deaths. |
|
1982 |
Guatemala, El Salvador |
Flooding and mudslides |
Estimated 1,200 deaths. Destruction of El Salvador’s cotton, coffee, and corn crops. |
|
1976 |
Guatemala |
Earthquake |
7.5 earthquake that struck while people were sleeping. 23,000 were killed. |
|
1974 |
Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala |
Hurricane Fifi |
Third deadliest Atlantic Hurricane which killed 7,000 people. |
|
1973 |
Honduras |
Landslide |
2,800 killed. |
|
1972 |
Nicaragua |
Earthquake |
6.3 earthquake that caused the destruction of most of Managua. 10,000 people were killed. |
|
1965 |
El Salvador |
Earthquake |
125 dead. |
|
1961 |
Belize |
Hurricane Hattie |
The eye of Hurricane Hattie killed 307 in Belize City as it passed between Belize City and Dengriga. Hurricane winds reached 115 mph with 200 mph gusts. The hurricane caused the People’s United Party (PUP) to relocate their capital to Belmopan. |
|
1955 |
Belize |
Hurricane Janet |
Hurricane winds reached up to 170 mph. Sixteen people were killed and 20,000 were left homeless. |
|
1951 |
El Salvador |
Earthquake |
At least 400 dead. |
|
1949 |
Guatemala |
Floods |
Death toll estimates 1,000-40,000. |
|
1943 |
Nicaragua |
Mazatlan Hurricane |
106 deaths. |
|
1936 |
El Salvador |
Earthquake |
200 deaths. |
|
1931 |
Nicaragua |
Earthquake |
6.1 magnitude earthquake that sparked a devastating fire. Estimated 1,000-2,450 deaths. |
|
1931 |
Belize |
Hurricane |
Deadliest hurricane in the country’s history. It killed 2,500 people. |
|
1919 |
El Salvador |
Earthquake |
100 deaths. |
|
1917 |
Guatemala |
Earthquake |
5.6 earthquake that caused 250 deaths. |
|
1910 |
Costa Rica |
Earthquake |
700 deaths. |
|
1902 |
Guatemala |
Santa Maria Volcanic eruption |
First recorded eruption. Locals did not recognize warning signs; estimated 6,000 deaths. Indigenous people forced to work for free while criollos were given lands stolen from native communities to compensate for their losses. |
|
1885 |
Nicaragua |
Earthquake |
Extensive damage to León, Chinandega, and Managua. |
|
1882 |
Panama |
Tsunami |
Estimated 100 deaths. |
|
1859 |
Guatemala |
Earthquake and eruption |
One of the strongest earthquakes in Central America. Izalco volcano erupted. |
|
1773 |
Guatemala |
Earthquake |
7.5 earthquake that left estimates of 500-600 dead. |
|
1663 |
Nicaragua |
Earthquake |
Earthquake caused the destruction of León and affected other nearby areas with multiple landslides. |
|
1648 |
Nicaragua |
Earthquake |
Extensive damage to the capital, León. |
|
1609 |
Nicaragua |
Momotombo Volcanic eruption |
Destruction of capital, León. |
|
1541 |
Guatemala |
Eruption |
Damage to the capital from flooding mud from Agua volcano. |
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