Strong M6.4 Earthquake struck on Wednesday Afternoon near Guatemala City in Guatemala.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on May 17th, 2023. Last updated July 16th, 2023.

Under land 61 kilometer from Guatemala City in Guatemala, a strong MAG-6.4 earthquake occurred in the late afternoon of Wednesday May 17th, 2023. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. Roughly 25 million people may have felt this earthquake. Other nearby countries are Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Belize.

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Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Guatemala, 61 kilometer (38 mi) north-northwest of Guatemala City in Guatemala. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 252 km.

Date and Time:	May 17, 2023 05:02PM (Guatemala Time) - May 17, 2023 23:02 Universal Time.
Location:	61 km NNW of Guatemala City, Guatemala, Guatemala. Coordinates 15°6'24"N 90°48'19"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.4 Detected by 174 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.024 .
Depth:	252 km (157 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	IV Light On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely Tsunami's are usually caused by MAG-6.5+ earthquakes, less than 100km shallow, and with an epicenter under sea. Neither of this seems to be the case. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 25 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 25 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

An estimated 19,030,000 people were exposed to level IV. At this level, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected.

People in 5 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Guatemala , around 18 million people, with impact levels up to IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Roughly 4.4 million people were exposed to shaking in El Salvador . Roughly 2.2 million people were exposed to shaking in Mexico . In Honduras and Belize, a smaller number of people were exposed.

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. Guatemala , Mexico , El Salvador , Honduras and Belize are all within 300km distance of its epicenter.

Santa Cruz del Quiché in Quiché, Guatemala is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 38 kilometer (24 mi) east-northeast of Santa Cruz del Quiché. The intensity of shaking and damage in Santa Cruz del Quiché is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Major cities near this earthquake: Guatemala City is located 61 km to the south-southeast and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Mixco is located 57 km to the south-southeast and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Villa Nueva is located 69 km to the south-southeast and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is IV.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 52 people in 5 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 52 people have reported shaking in 31 places in 5 countries (El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala, Guatemala: 11 people.
• Olintepeque, Quezaltenango, Guatemala: 3 people.
• Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala: 3 people.
• Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico: 3 people.
• San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico: 2 people.
• Huayapam, Oaxaca, Mexico: 2 people.
• Managua, Managua, Nicaragua: 2 people.
• Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala: 2 people.
• San Ignacio, Cayo, Belize: 2 people.
• Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico: 1 person.

Risk of aftershocks?

This earthquake did not have any significant foreshocks nor aftershocks occurring within 100km (62 mi) of its epicenter.

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

This is the strongest earthquake in 4 years

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since May 30th, 2019, when a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit 267 km (166 mi) further south-east. An even stronger magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck on June 14th, 2017.

In total, 7 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.4 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every year.

Tsunami very unlikely

It is very unlikely that this eartquake will cause any tsunami's. The reported magnitude is lower than the MAG-6.5 strength required to cause any earthquakes. In addition, this earthquake was not very shallow and appears to have occurred under land. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Sources

Last updated 16/07/23 12:17 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000kcnb
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20230517_0000221
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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