Strong M6.5 Earthquake hit in the North Pacific Ocean near San Miguel (El Salvador) on Tuesday Evening.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on July 19th, 2023. Last updated September 16th, 2023.

In the evening of Tuesday July 18th, 2023, a strong MAG-6.5 earthquake hit in the North Pacific Ocean 77 kilometer from San Miguel, El Salvador. Mag 6.5+ earthquakes at shallow depth under sea have the potential to cause tsunami's. Other nearby countries are Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

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Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the North Pacific Ocean, 41 kilometers (25 mi) off the coast of El Salvador, 77 kilometer south of San Miguel. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 71 km.

Date and Time:	Jul 18, 2023 06:22PM (El Salvador Time) - Jul 19, 2023 00:22 Universal Time.
Location:	77 km south of San Miguel, El Salvador. Coordinates 12°47'59"N 88°4'48"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.5 Detected by 12 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.04 .
Depth:	71 km (44 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	VII Very Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Potential Tsunami Risk Mag 6.5+ earthquakes at shallow depth under sea have the potential to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Potential Tsunami Risk

There is a potential tsunami risk in the aftermath of this earthquake, immediately evacuate to higher grounds away from coastal areas and monitor advice from local authorities. This earthquake checks all the likely tsunami risk factors: under sea, at a magnitude of MAG-6.5+ and at a shallow depth.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Significant impact predicted

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

At least 2 people injured, many homes and 13 buildings damaged in the San Miguel-Sonsonate-Usulutan area. Landslides occurred at Chirilagua and at Nueva Granada.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level YELLOW (significant). They expect an 50% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 99% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 100.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level YELLOW (significant). They expect an 35% likelyhood of between 1 and 10 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 98% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 1,000 million USD.

Roughly 14 million people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 14 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is VI, which corresponds with strong shaking and probably light damage. Roughly 442,600 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level IV was experienced by the majority of people (around 11 million). In their region, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected.

People in 5 countries have been exposed to shaking. In El Salvador , around 6.1 million people, with impact levels up to VI (strong shaking, probably light damage). Roughly 2.8 million people were exposed to shaking in Nicaragua . In Honduras , around 4.2 million people. Shaking was experienced by inhabitants of Guatemala too.

Nearby towns and cities

El Salvador , Honduras , Nicaragua and Guatemala are all located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake. Futher away, this earthquake may also have been felt in Costa Rica and Belize.

Located 65 kilometer (40 mi) south-southwest of the epicenter of this earthquake, La Unión (La Unión, El Salvador) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in La Unión is estimated to be around level VI on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (strong shaking, probably light damage).

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Tegucigalpa is located 171 km to the north-northeast and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Managua is located 212 km to the east-southeast and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). San Salvador is located 155 km to the northwest 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 graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is VI.

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 160 people in 8 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 160 people have reported shaking in 78 places in 8 countries (Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad, El Salvador: 12 people.
• Managua, Managua, Nicaragua: 11 people.
• Santiago de María, Usulután, El Salvador: 8 people.
• Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala, Guatemala: 8 people.
• Mejicanos, San Salvador, El Salvador: 7 people.
• Yaguacire, Francisco Morazán, Honduras: 5 people.
• Tegucigalpa, Distrito Central, Honduras: 5 people.
• León, León, Nicaragua: 5 people.
• Nueva San Salvador, La Libertad, El Salvador: 5 people.
• Nuevo Cuscatlán, La Libertad, El Salvador: 4 people.

193 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 193 smaller aftershocks were detected. At a distance of 15 km (10 mi) west-northwest of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 2 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 5.2

In the days before this main shock, 7 smaller foreshocks were detected. A 3.9 magnitude earthquake hit 18 hrs earlier nearby.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

More earthquakes coming?

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.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since April 21st, 2022, when a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit 184 km (115 mi) further south-east. An even stronger magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck on October 14th, 2014.

In total, 6 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.5 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 2 years.

Sources

Last updated 16/09/23 10:57 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000kgpb
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20230719_0000005
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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