November 08, 2013 - NICARAGUA - A seismic swarm in the Momotombo volcano in August claimed nearly 300 microearthquakes in a single day, more than twice as common tremors reported the same month, reported the Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies (INET).
According to the Monthly Bulletin of Earthquakes and Volcanoes of INET, the Momotombo swarm of microearthquakes caused 284 on August 17. The Momotombo, located north of Lake Managua, presented 524 microearthquakes between 16 and 18 August, according to the report. The microearthquakes are earthquakes with magnitudes less than the magnitude of 1.0 on the Richter scale, which are not perceived by the population.
The swarm in August Momotombo volcano did not cause any damage in Nicaragua. Regarding the normal seismic activity, the INET recorded 177 tremors with a magnitude of 1.0 Richter or more, both on the Pacific Ocean, and in the volcanic chain and northern Nicaragua.
The tremors under the Pacific Ocean were located off the coast of Corinto , Masachapa and The Small mouth, in the subduction zone, ie at the point of collision of continental plates Cocos and Caribbean, according to the report. The earthquakes in the volcanic chain were located in San Cristobal volcano, Masaya and Concepcion.
The northern tremors occurred in the provinces of EstelÃ, Madriz, Nueva Segovia and the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN). Most of the earthquakes, ie 54, had magnitudes between 3.0 and 3.9 Richter.
Another 50 earthquakes showed a magnitude of between 2.0 and 2.9 Richter. The rest had magnitudes between 1.0 and 1.9 Richter, according to the bulletin. Nicaragua is considered a country with high frequency of earthquakes. 2,000 tremors occur each year on average, according to statistics from INET. -
El Nuevo Diario. [Translated]