Shallow M6.1 Earthquake hit in the North Pacific Ocean near San Salvador (El Salvador) on Wednesday Afternoon.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on August 28th, 2024. Last updated October 27th, 2024.

A shallow and strong Magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean 81 kilometer from San Salvador, El Salvador in the afternoon of Wednesday August 28th, 2024. Around 16 million people have been exposed to shaking. Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua are also near its epicenter.

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Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the North Pacific Ocean, 53 kilometers (33 mi) off the coast of El Salvador, 81 kilometer south-southwest of San Salvador. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 23 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Aug 28, 2024 03:57PM (El Salvador Time) - Aug 28, 2024 21:57 Universal Time.
Location:	81 km SSW of San Salvador, El Salvador. Coordinates 13°1'29"N 89°29'19"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.1 Detected by 72 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.037 .
Depth:	23 km (14 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

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

Fifty people injured when beehive fell due to shaking in Juayua.

Based on scientific estimates by the 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 100% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 16 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 16 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.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is V, which corresponds with moderate shaking and very light damage. Roughly 189,500 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 10 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 4 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 6.3 million people were exposed to shaking in El Salvador , with level V (moderate shaking, very light damage) as the highest recorded. Roughly 8 million people were exposed to shaking in Guatemala . In Honduras , around 1.8 million people. In Nicaragua, shaking was experienced too.

Nearby towns and cities

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

Located 55 kilometer (34 mi) south-southwest of the epicenter of this earthquake, La Libertad (La Libertad, El Salvador) is the nearest significant population center. La Libertad experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. San Salvador is located 81 km to the north-northeast and experienced an intensity of V (moderate shaking, very light damage). Guatemala City is located 211 km to the north-northwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Soyapango is located 85 km to the north-northeast and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

A complete list of nearby places is included below. Estimated intensity data (MMI) sourced from a shake-map published by the US Geographic Survey is shown where available (cities without data probably experienced little impact).

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is V. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

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 98 people in 4 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 98 people have reported shaking in 37 places in 4 countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, 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:

• Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala: 17 people.
• Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala, Guatemala: 12 people.
• Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad, El Salvador: 12 people.
• Nueva San Salvador, La Libertad, El Salvador: 7 people.
• San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador: 6 people.
• Chinautla, Guatemala, Guatemala: 3 people.
• Villa Nueva, Guatemala, Guatemala: 3 people.
• Acajutla, Sonsonate, El Salvador: 2 people.
• Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala: 2 people.
• San José Pinula, Guatemala, Guatemala: 2 people.

19 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 19 smaller aftershocks were detected. Just 10 hrs after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4.4 was detected 13 km (8 mi) west-southwest of this earthquake.

This main shock was prefaced by 7 smaller foreshocks. Roughly 2 hrs before this earthquake, a foreshock measuring MAG-4.2 was detected nearby this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

More earthquakes coming?

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

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.

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 July 21st, 2024, when a 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit 186 km (116 mi) further north-northwest. An even stronger magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck on October 14th, 2014.

In total, 10 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.1 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.

Low tsunami risk

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Sources

Last updated 27/10/24 07:58 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000nncs
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20240828_0000212
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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