The 2004 Les Saintes earthquake occurred at 07:41:07 local time on November 21, 2004, with a moment magnitude of 6.3 and maximum European macroseismic intensity of VIII (Heavily damaging).

A small, nondestructive tsunami was reported, but run-up and inundation distances were difficult to measure due to a storm that occurred on the day of the event.

At Grand-Bourg on the island of Marie-Galante (where the intensity was deemed to be VI–VII (Slightly damaging–Damaging)) the town hall, a church, and a college were red-tagged (unsuitable for use).

The same intensity was assigned to the nearby commune of Saint-Louis, where the newly built town hall had visible cracks and the church was closed due to the potential of aftershocks breaking stained glass windows.

The 10–15 m (33–49 ft) deep lake lies in an active geothermal area and is normally stable in terms of temperature (80–90 °C (176–194 °F)) and water level.

A large storm occurred on the day of the event, and this might have prevented visual observation of the tsunami, but witnesses on Guadeloupe reported the sea level dropped "a few" to as many as 50 cm (20 in).