The Guatemalan earthquake of 1717 that destroyed much of the Guatemalan architecture and many buildings.
The 1717 Guatemala earthquake destroyed over 3,000 buildings in Antigua Guatemala and ultimately triggered the relocation of the colonial capital to modern Guatemala City.
Key Facts
- Date
- September 29, 1717
- Moment Magnitude
- 7.4 Mw
- Mercalli Intensity
- IX (Violent)
- Buildings Destroyed
- Over 3,000 buildings
- Capital Relocated
- 1776, to Valle de la Ermita
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Colonial Antigua Guatemala, serving as the capital of Central America, was situated in a seismically active region of Central America prone to significant tectonic activity. The area's geology made it vulnerable to powerful earthquakes, and on September 29, 1717, a major seismic event struck the region.
The earthquake registered an estimated moment magnitude of 7.4 and Mercalli intensity of approximately IX (Violent), devastating Antigua Guatemala. More than 3,000 buildings were destroyed, including numerous temples and churches, effectively dismantling much of the colonial capital's architectural fabric.
The scale of destruction prompted authorities to consider relocating the capital to a less disaster-prone area. After further earthquakes, including the 1773 Santa Marta earthquakes, the Spanish Crown ordered the capital moved in 1776 to Valle de la Ermita, the site of present-day Guatemala City.