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INTRODUCTI ON
146
CATALOG OF EARTHQUAKES FOR VENEZUELA
HYPOCENTER ANI) INENSITY DATA
NATIONAL REPORT
Dr. Jos6 Grases G.
The preparation of the catalog for Venezuela began with a careful revision
of listings, bibliogrophicaJ references and documental sources where
reliable data could be found. With relation to the hypocentral catalogs and
lists with events recorded by instruments, the information appears in the General
Report.
Concerning tihe seismic movements which throughout historical times have
caused some type of damage in localities of Venezuela, there exists abundant
literature, although dispersed, which comes from the testimony of witnesses
who were present, as well as rrcm news published by third persons, official
reports, seismological bulletins, local and foreign press news, etc. Of these
documents, the work of Centeno Crau (1969) is specially important, since it
contains a very complete compilation of information concerning destructive
earthquakes, felt earthquakes and secondary effects, which have occurred in
VenezuelL from 1530 through 1949.
Incl linglthe area covered by the sea, which represents between a third
and a fourth part of the total, the area which is seismically active andwhich
has been studied is somewhat larger than one million square kilometers. In
much of this area, the politica] history during colonial times, since the descovery
of Venezuela, was infnenced by Spain, England, France and, to a lesser
degree, lolland, a fact which has complicated the compilation of the data.
In the areas adjacent to the western frontier of the country, the catalog
of Colombian earthquakes of Father Ramirez, S.J. (second edition 1975) was of
part itcilar help. Also, the catalog of Robson (1964), concerning seismic activity
in the eastern Caribe, was of special help for the study of seismic
events which are located in the eastern part of the country.
The preparation of the catalog wes the responsibility of J. Grases. The
criteria for se! ction were discussed with L. Ocola and V. Winkler. The lists
of hypocenters was the work of o. P~rez and the revision and the checking of
the final verrs ier was done by M. Lugo. The initiative and the recognition of
the importance of this catalog must be credited to G. Fiedler, who pioneered
inMst. runental sei smology in Venezuela.
MATER IALS IS E)
1. DocrmentalJ Sources
If any criticism can be made to the work of Centeno Grau, it is that
there is a lack of precise references for the sources of information included