1972 Nicaragua earthquake
| UTC time | 1972-12-23 06:29:44 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 766571 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | December 23, 1972 |
| Local time | 00:29:44 |
| Duration | 10–15 seconds |
| Magnitude | 6.3 Mw |
| Depth | 10 km (6.2 mi) |
| Epicenter | 12°11′N 86°13′W / 12.18°N 86.22°W |
| Areas affected | Nicaragua |
| Max. intensity | MMI IX (Violent) MSK-64 IX (Destructive) |
| Casualties | 4,000–11,000 dead 20,000 injured 300,000 displaced |
The 1972 Nicaragua earthquake occurred at 12:29:44 a.m. local time (06:29:44 UTC) on 23 December near Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. It had a moment magnitude of 6.3 and a maximum MSK intensity of IX (Destructive). The epicenter was 28 km (17 mi) northeast of the city centre with a depth of about 10 km (6.2 mi). The earthquake caused widespread casualties among Managua's residents: 4,000–11,000 were killed, 20,000 were injured and over 300,000 were left homeless.