Nicaragua reports a seismic swarm in an unusual area

Managua, 22 Mar The Government of Nicaragua reported on Tuesday a seismic swarm in the department of Jinotega (north), an unusual area, so authorities have begun follow-up work. The seismic swarm, which has not been reported by residents, was detected in the northeast of the city of Jinotega, a rural area in northern Nicaragua, according to the country's vice president, Rosario Murillo, through official media. The National System for Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Response (Sinapred) recorded “more than 19 small tremors, the largest being 2.5 (on the open Richter scale), 4 kilometers deep, 21 kilometers northeast of Jinotega,” said Murillo. Nicaraguan authorities often give special follow-up to shallow earthquakes, because they can cause more damage than those of greater depth. In the case of this swarm detected by the authorities, it has attracted attention due to its location, since it is located in an area where until now the Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies (INETER) has not reported the presence of significant geological faults. “These days it is common because of the spring equinox, it is common for earthquakes to occur everywhere. There was also an earthquake in Cayenne, French Guiana, magnitude 6.7, today at 10:35 in the morning (16.35 GMT), a tsunami warning, but only for information purposes,” continued Murillo, who is the wife of President Daniel Ortega. So far the Sinapred and Ineter authorities have not provided details about the swarm.