Latin America is not shaking more than usual, a Montreal scientist says

In Latin America and the Caribbean in 50 years

130 earthquakes of magnitude 7+

Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America have had about 130 earthquakes of magnitude 7 or more in 50 years, says Fiona Ann Darbyshire, an Earth sciences professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal. Some years have none, others five or six.

A direct link between the recent quakes in Venezuela, Colombia and Panama is hard to confirm, she says. The Colombian quake struck more than 100 km below the surface.

The plates that meet there

• North American
• Caribbean
• Cocos
• Nazca
• South American

The region sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the North American, Caribbean, Cocos, Nazca and South American plates interact.

The bigger picture

Earthquakes are not becoming more frequent around the world, Darbyshire says: their rate varies from decade to decade but shows no long-term trend.