The overall four cm per year displacement along this boundary is split nearly equally between two major dextral (right lateral) strike-slip zones either side of the Gonâve microplate.

[2] The earthquake was felt over a wide area, including southern Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and across the Antilles.

[3] The earthquake appears to have been caused by movement on the Septentrional Fault, with the rupture extending from the Cibao valley in the present day Dominican Republic, along the whole of the northern coast of Haiti.

[7] Despite the devastation caused by the earthquake President Boyer did not visit the affected areas and this led to an increase in opposition to his rule.

[9] The results of trenching across the Septentrional Fault in the Ciabo valley have identified large earthquakes, similar in character to that in 1842, at around 1230 and another historical event in 1562.