A shallow M4.7 earthquake struck under land 84 kilometer from Huehuetenango in Guatemala around noon of Sunday July 23rd, 2023. Mexico, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras are also near its epicenter.
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Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Guatemala, 84 kilometer (52 mi) north-northeast of Huehuetenango. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
| Date and Time: | Jul 23, 2023 12:23PM (Guatemala Time) - Jul 23, 2023 18:23 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 84 km NNE of Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Coordinates 16°2'14"N 91°13'45"W. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 4.7 Detected by 312 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.031 . |
| Depth: | 10 km (6 mi) A very shallow depth. |
| Tsunami Risk: | Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Nearby towns and cities
5 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Guatemala , Mexico , Belize , El Salvador and Honduras .
The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Jacaltenango in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Jacaltenango is located 66 kilometer (41 mi) north-east of the epicenter.
Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Guatemala City is located 173 km to the south-southeast. Mixco is located 170 km to the south-southeast. Tuxtla is located 216 km to the west-northwest.
The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 66 km (41 mi) SW from epicenter |
Jacaltenango Huehuetenango, Guatemala. |
| 71 km (44 mi) S from epicenter |
Nebaj Quiché, Guatemala. |
| 84 km (52 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Huehuetenango Huehuetenango, Guatemala. |
| 86 km (53 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Las Margaritas Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 100 km (62 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Comitán Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 104 km (65 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Chisec Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. |
| 106 km (66 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Comalapa Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 110 km (68 mi) SE from epicenter |
San Cristóbal Verapaz Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. |
| 111 km (69 mi) SE from epicenter |
Cobán Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. |
| 112 km (70 mi) S from epicenter |
Santa Cruz del Quiché Quiché, Guatemala. |
| 112 km (70 mi) S from epicenter |
Momostenango Totonicapán, Guatemala. |
| 119 km (74 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Comitancillo San Marcos, Guatemala. |
| 122 km (76 mi) S from epicenter |
Chichicastenango Quiché, Guatemala. |
| 124 km (77 mi) S from epicenter |
San Francisco El Alto Totonicapán, Guatemala. |
| 126 km (78 mi) S from epicenter |
Totonicapán Totonicapán, Guatemala. |
| 132 km (82 mi) SSW from epicenter |
San Pedro Sacatepéquez San Marcos, Guatemala. |
| 132 km (82 mi) SW from epicenter |
Motozintla Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 133 km (83 mi) S from epicenter |
Nahualá Sololá, Guatemala. |
| 134 km (83 mi) SSW from epicenter |
San Marcos San Marcos, Guatemala. |
| 134 km (83 mi) NW from epicenter |
Ocosingo Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 137 km (85 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Quetzaltenango Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. |
| 137 km (85 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Ostuncalco Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. |
| 138 km (86 mi) S from epicenter |
Cantel Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. |
| 141 km (88 mi) S from epicenter |
Sololá Sololá, Guatemala. |
| 143 km (89 mi) SE from epicenter |
Salamá Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. |
| 156 km (97 mi) S from epicenter |
Santiago Atitlán Sololá, Guatemala. |
| 159 km (99 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Chimaltenango Chimaltenango, Guatemala. |
| 159 km (99 mi) SSE from epicenter |
San Juan Sacatepéquez Guatemala, Guatemala. |
| 161 km (100 mi) N from epicenter |
Tenosique Tabasco, Mexico. |
| 163 km (101 mi) SSE from epicenter |
San Pedro Ayampuc Guatemala, Guatemala. |
| 163 km (101 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Coatepeque Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. |
| 166 km (103 mi) SW from epicenter |
Huixtla Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 167 km (104 mi) SW from epicenter |
Tapachula Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 168 km (104 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Chinautla Guatemala, Guatemala. |
| 169 km (105 mi) WNW from epicenter |
San Cristóbal de las Casas Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 170 km (106 mi) S from epicenter |
Mazatenango Suchitepeque, Guatemala. |
| 170 km (106 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Mixco Guatemala, Guatemala. |
| 171 km (106 mi) NE from epicenter |
San Benito Petén, Guatemala. |
| 172 km (107 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Antigua Guatemala Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. |
| 173 km (107 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Guatemala City Guatemala, Guatemala. |
| 174 km (108 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Retalhuleu Retalhuleu, Guatemala. |
| 177 km (110 mi) SE from epicenter |
Sanarate El Progreso, Guatemala. |
| 181 km (112 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Santa Catarina Pinula Guatemala, Guatemala. |
| 182 km (113 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Palenque Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 182 km (113 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Villa Nueva Guatemala, Guatemala. |
| 185 km (115 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Amatitlán Guatemala, Guatemala. |
| 185 km (115 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Petapa Guatemala, Guatemala. |
| 188 km (117 mi) SSE from epicenter |
San José Pinula Guatemala, Guatemala. |
| 188 km (117 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Villa Canales Guatemala, Guatemala. |
| 191 km (119 mi) S from epicenter |
Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa Escuintla, Guatemala. |
| 199 km (124 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Escuintla Escuintla, Guatemala. |
| 205 km (127 mi) SE from epicenter |
Jalapa Jalapa, Guatemala. |
| 214 km (133 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Barberena Santa Rosa, Guatemala. |
| 216 km (134 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Tuxtla Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 217 km (135 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Zacapa Zacapa, Guatemala. |
| 227 km (141 mi) SE from epicenter |
Chiquimula Chiquimula, Guatemala. |
| 241 km (150 mi) SE from epicenter |
Jutiapa Jutiapa, Guatemala. |
| 262 km (163 mi) ENE from epicenter |
San Ignacio Cayo, Belize. |
| 278 km (173 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Ahuachapán Ahuachapán, El Salvador. |
| 282 km (175 mi) NW from epicenter |
Villahermosa Tabasco, Mexico. |
| 284 km (176 mi) E from epicenter |
Puerto Barrios Izabal, Guatemala. |
| 289 km (180 mi) SE from epicenter |
Santa Ana Santa Ana, El Salvador. |
| 297 km (185 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ciudad del Carmen Campeche, Mexico. |
| 298 km (185 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Santa Rosa de Copán Copán, Honduras. |
Shaking reported by 4 people in 2 countries
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 4 people have reported shaking in 4 places in 2 countries (Guatemala, Mexico).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: 1 person.
- Quetzaltenango, Quezaltenango, Guatemala: 1 person.
- Tlalnepantla, México, Mexico: 1 person.
- Perote, Veracruz, Mexico: 1 person.
2 Aftershocks detected
This main shock was followed by 2 smaller aftershocks. A 4.1 magnitude earthquake hit 20 hrs later 9 km (6 mi) west of this earthquake.
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
| Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 4.7 |
Jul 23, 2023 12:23PM (Guatemala Time) | - |
| Aftershock | M 3.9 |
16 hrs later Jul 24, 2023 04:42AM (Guatemala Time) | 8 km (5 mi) ENE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 4.1 |
20 hrs later Jul 24, 2023 08:22AM (Guatemala Time) | 9 km (6 mi) W from Main Shock. |
More earthquakes coming?
The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.
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.
Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).Earthquakes like this happen often in the region
Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since May 17th, 2023, when a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit 113 km (70 mi) further south-southeast. An even stronger magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck on June 14th, 2017.
In total, 225 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.7 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 16 days.
Tsunami very unlikely
While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.
Tsunami Risk Factors
| Factor | Under Sea? | MAG-6.5 or stronger? | Shallow depth? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami. | Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's. |
Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor. |
| This Earthquake | Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 4.7. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 10 km (6 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 21/09/23 11:17 (). 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.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000khuf
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20230723_0000163
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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