Fractal clustering pattern of Earthquakes in Haiti Region

12 January 2010 earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude (Mw =7.0) earthquake with an epicenter near the town of Leogane(18.44N, 72.57W), with the depth of earthquake was 13Km on the blind thrust faults associated with the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system. Modern tectonic activity is forced by the convergent movements between the plates: The Caribbean tectonic plate shifts eastward in relation to North American plate. Highly complex geodynamic process of this region makes it well suited for fractal seismic analysis. Data between March 2000 to December 2009, prior to main shock, was studied for the entire Caribbean-North America plate boundary in the region of Hispaniola using spatial fractal correlation dimension (Dc) approach for the detection of clustering pattern in the narrow time span prior to the main strong events. Based on the spatio-temporal clustering pattern indicated by relatively low Dc (very close to the value of 1) of the past intermediate size events prior to strong event, the potential for future large events can also be assessed. Spatio-temporal clustering pattern of events apparently indicates a highly stressed region, an asperity or weak zone from where the rupture propagation may have eventually nucleated, causing strong earthquake may be used as clue for going detail hazard study.