The Experience on Earthquake Risk in Central America

Presented by the Central American Actuarial Association (Asociacion Acturial Centroamericana) to the 13th ASTIN Colloquium.The Asociaciôn Actuarial Centroamericana (AAC) is a grouping of Actuaries from the Central American Republics of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. The AAC is a contributing ASTIN member of the International Actuarial Association.Earthquakes have been a constant scourge of mankind. Central America has not escaped this phenomenon, indeed the territory has been most affected by them precisely because of its condition as an isthmus that serves as a fragile union between the continental land masses of North and South America, and in consequence being subject to disturbances by the displacement of the continental plates. Our lands abound with beautiful volcanoes, which have also contributed to local seismic activity. Whatever their origin, the earthquakes that have struck our country have left their share of destruction of lives and property.In Annex 1 a table is presented, showing a history of seismic activity and volcanic eruptions in the countries on the Caribbean Platform, in which we can appreciate in detail the catastrophes that occurred from the XVI Century until 1976.