A significant M5.2 earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean 78 kilometer from San Salvador, El Salvador in the evening of Saturday September 14th, 2024. 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, 29 kilometers (18 mi) off the coast of El Salvador, 78 kilometer southwest of San Salvador. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 57 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
Date and Time: | Sep 14, 2024 10:58PM (El Salvador Time) - Sep 15, 2024 04:58 Universal Time. |
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Location: | 78 km SW of San Salvador, El Salvador. Coordinates 13°16'24"N 89°46'9"W. |
Map: | Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
Magnitude: | MAG 5.2 Detected by 34 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.053 . |
Depth: | 57 km (36 mi) A quite shallow depth. |
Tsunami Risk: | Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Nearby towns and cities
El Salvador , Guatemala , Honduras and Nicaragua are all located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.
Located 36 kilometer (22 mi) south of the epicenter of this earthquake, Acajutla (Sonsonate, El Salvador) is the nearest significant population center.
Major cities near this earthquake: San Salvador is located 78 km to the north-east. Guatemala City is located 172 km to the north-northwest. Soyapango is located 84 km to the north-east.
An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below.
Overview of nearby places
Distance | Place |
---|---|
36 km (22 mi) N from epicenter |
Acajutla Sonsonate, El Salvador. |
50 km (31 mi) N from epicenter |
Sonsonate Sonsonate, El Salvador. |
52 km (32 mi) N from epicenter |
Sonzacate Sonsonate, El Salvador. |
53 km (33 mi) N from epicenter |
Izalco Sonsonate, El Salvador. |
54 km (34 mi) ENE from epicenter |
La Libertad La Libertad, El Salvador. |
69 km (43 mi) NE from epicenter |
Santa Tecla La Libertad, El Salvador. |
71 km (44 mi) NE from epicenter |
Antiguo Cuscatlán La Libertad, El Salvador. |
73 km (45 mi) N from epicenter |
Ahuachapán Ahuachapán, El Salvador. |
77 km (48 mi) NE from epicenter |
San Marcos San Salvador, El Salvador. |
78 km (48 mi) NE from epicenter |
San Salvador San Salvador, El Salvador. |
80 km (50 mi) NE from epicenter |
Ayutuxtepeque San Salvador, El Salvador. |
80 km (50 mi) NE from epicenter |
Mejicanos San Salvador, El Salvador. |
80 km (50 mi) N from epicenter |
Chalchuapa Santa Ana, El Salvador. |
81 km (50 mi) NE from epicenter |
Cuscatancingo San Salvador, El Salvador. |
82 km (51 mi) NE from epicenter |
Delgado San Salvador, El Salvador. |
82 km (51 mi) NE from epicenter |
Quezaltepeque La Libertad, El Salvador. |
83 km (52 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Santa Ana Santa Ana, El Salvador. |
84 km (52 mi) NE from epicenter |
Soyapango San Salvador, El Salvador. |
86 km (53 mi) NE from epicenter |
Ilopango San Salvador, El Salvador. |
87 km (54 mi) NE from epicenter |
Apopa San Salvador, El Salvador. |
99 km (62 mi) NE from epicenter |
Aguilares San Salvador, El Salvador. |
101 km (63 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Zacatecoluca La Paz, El Salvador. |
103 km (64 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Cojutepeque Cuscatlán, El Salvador. |
108 km (67 mi) ENE from epicenter |
San Martín Cuscatlán, El Salvador. |
112 km (70 mi) ENE from epicenter |
San Vicente San Vicente, El Salvador. |
114 km (71 mi) N from epicenter |
Jutiapa Jutiapa, Guatemala. |
123 km (76 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Metapán Santa Ana, El Salvador. |
124 km (77 mi) NE from epicenter |
Chalatenango Chalatenango, El Salvador. |
132 km (82 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Barberena Santa Rosa, Guatemala. |
139 km (86 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Sensuntepeque Cabañas, El Salvador. |
143 km (89 mi) E from epicenter |
Usulután Usulután, El Salvador. |
151 km (94 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Fraijanes Guatemala, Guatemala. |
153 km (95 mi) N from epicenter |
Jalapa Jalapa, Guatemala. |
158 km (98 mi) NW from epicenter |
Escuintla Escuintla, Guatemala. |
158 km (98 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Villa Canales Guatemala, Guatemala. |
158 km (98 mi) NNW from epicenter |
San José Pinula Guatemala, Guatemala. |
161 km (100 mi) NW from epicenter |
Palín Escuintla, Guatemala. |
161 km (100 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Petapa Guatemala, Guatemala. |
163 km (101 mi) NW from epicenter |
Amatitlán Guatemala, Guatemala. |
164 km (102 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Santa Catarina Pinula Guatemala, Guatemala. |
165 km (103 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Villa Nueva Guatemala, Guatemala. |
171 km (106 mi) N from epicenter |
Chiquimula Chiquimula, Guatemala. |
172 km (107 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Guatemala City Guatemala, Guatemala. |
173 km (107 mi) E from epicenter |
San Miguel San Miguel, El Salvador. |
175 km (109 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Sanarate El Progreso, Guatemala. |
176 km (109 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Mixco Guatemala, Guatemala. |
177 km (110 mi) NW from epicenter |
Antigua Guatemala Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. |
177 km (110 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Chinautla Guatemala, Guatemala. |
180 km (112 mi) NW from epicenter |
Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa Escuintla, Guatemala. |
183 km (114 mi) NNW from epicenter |
San Pedro Ayampuc Guatemala, Guatemala. |
186 km (116 mi) NNW from epicenter |
San Juan Sacatepéquez Guatemala, Guatemala. |
187 km (116 mi) ENE from epicenter |
San Francisco Morazán, El Salvador. |
191 km (119 mi) N from epicenter |
Zacapa Zacapa, Guatemala. |
191 km (119 mi) NW from epicenter |
Chimaltenango Chimaltenango, Guatemala. |
197 km (122 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Santa Rosa de Copán Copán, Honduras. |
208 km (129 mi) E from epicenter |
La Unión La Unión, El Salvador. |
212 km (132 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Salamá Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. |
226 km (140 mi) NW from epicenter |
Sololá Sololá, Guatemala. |
234 km (145 mi) NW from epicenter |
Mazatenango Suchitepeque, Guatemala. |
235 km (146 mi) NW from epicenter |
Chichicastenango Quiché, Guatemala. |
247 km (153 mi) NE from epicenter |
Santa Bárbara Santa Bárbara, Honduras. |
249 km (155 mi) NW from epicenter |
Retalhuleu Retalhuleu, Guatemala. |
250 km (155 mi) NW from epicenter |
Totonicapán Totonicapán, Guatemala. |
252 km (157 mi) E from epicenter |
San Lorenzo Valle, Honduras. |
253 km (157 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Cobán Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. |
254 km (158 mi) ENE from epicenter |
La Paz La Paz, Honduras. |
256 km (159 mi) NW from epicenter |
Quetzaltenango Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. |
264 km (164 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Morales Izabal, Guatemala. |
265 km (165 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Comayagua Comayagua, Honduras. |
279 km (173 mi) E from epicenter |
Ciudad Choluteca Choluteca, Honduras. |
286 km (178 mi) NW from epicenter |
San Pedro Sacatepéquez San Marcos, Guatemala. |
291 km (181 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Tegucigalpa Francisco Morazán, Honduras. |
292 km (181 mi) NW from epicenter |
Huehuetenango Huehuetenango, Guatemala. |
295 km (183 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Chinandega Chinandega, Nicaragua. |
297 km (185 mi) NE from epicenter |
Villanueva Cortés, Honduras. |
Shaking reported by 24 people in 2 countries
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 24 people have reported shaking in 13 places in 2 countries (El Salvador, Guatemala).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.
Places with most reports:
- Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala: 4 people.
- Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala, Guatemala: 4 people.
- Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala: 3 people.
- Mejicanos, San Salvador, El Salvador: 2 people.
- Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad, El Salvador: 2 people.
- San José Pinula, Guatemala, Guatemala: 2 people.
- Concepción de Ataco, Ahuachapán, El Salvador: 1 person.
- Nueva San Salvador, La Libertad, El Salvador: 1 person.
- Nuevo Cuscatlán, La Libertad, El Salvador: 1 person.
- Quezaltepeque, La Libertad, El Salvador: 1 person.
13 Aftershocks detected
This main shock was followed by 13 smaller aftershocks. A 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit 18 mins later 12 km (7 mi) south-southwest of this earthquake.
In the days before this main shock, 9 smaller foreshocks were detected. A 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit 1 day earlier nearby.
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
---|---|---|---|
Foreshock | M 2.6 |
2 days earlier Sep 13, 2024 10:02AM (El Salvador Time) | 29 km (18 mi) WSW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 4.9 |
1 day earlier Sep 13, 2024 03:21PM (El Salvador Time) | 19 km (12 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 3.9 |
1 day earlier Sep 13, 2024 04:11PM (El Salvador Time) | 30 km (18 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 4.0 |
1 day earlier Sep 13, 2024 04:34PM (El Salvador Time) | 36 km (22 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 3.8 |
1 day earlier Sep 13, 2024 04:36PM (El Salvador Time) | 31 km (20 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 3.5 |
1 day earlier Sep 13, 2024 10:56PM (El Salvador Time) | 40 km (25 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 3.8 |
23 hrs earlier Sep 13, 2024 11:38PM (El Salvador Time) | 38 km (24 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 3.9 |
20 hrs earlier Sep 14, 2024 02:34AM (El Salvador Time) | 38 km (23 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 4.6 |
3 hrs earlier Sep 14, 2024 08:00PM (El Salvador Time) | 16 km (10 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 5.2 |
Sep 14, 2024 10:58PM (El Salvador Time) | - |
Aftershock | M 3.8 |
4 mins later Sep 14, 2024 11:02PM (El Salvador Time) | 34 km (21 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.1 |
12 mins later Sep 14, 2024 11:10PM (El Salvador Time) | 37 km (23 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.7 |
18 mins later Sep 14, 2024 11:16PM (El Salvador Time) | 12 km (7 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 3.6 |
35 mins later Sep 14, 2024 11:33PM (El Salvador Time) | 50 km (31 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 3.5 |
50 mins later Sep 14, 2024 11:48PM (El Salvador Time) | 36 km (22 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 3.5 |
58 mins later Sep 14, 2024 11:56PM (El Salvador Time) | 41 km (25 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.1 |
2 hrs later Sep 15, 2024 01:08AM (El Salvador Time) | 46 km (28 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.0 |
3 hrs later Sep 15, 2024 01:34AM (El Salvador Time) | 38 km (24 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 3.8 |
4 hrs later Sep 15, 2024 02:59AM (El Salvador Time) | 51 km (32 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.0 |
4 hrs later Sep 15, 2024 03:04AM (El Salvador Time) | 38 km (23 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.3 |
5 hrs later Sep 15, 2024 04:18AM (El Salvador Time) | 31 km (19 mi) WSW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 3.6 |
9 hrs later Sep 15, 2024 08:20AM (El Salvador Time) | 42 km (26 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.2 |
15 hrs later Sep 15, 2024 02:18PM (El Salvador Time) | 14 km (9 mi) WSW 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.
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.
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 August 28th, 2024, when a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit 38 km (24 mi) further south-east. An even stronger magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck on October 14th, 2014.
In total, 78 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.2 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 months.
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
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 | This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea. | Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.2. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 57 km (36 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 19/09/24 05:08 (). 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.