Significant M5.6 Earthquake hit in the North Pacific Ocean 146km from Guatemala City (Guatemala) on Wednesday Night.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on February 5th, 2025.

In the night of Wednesday February 5th, 2025, a significant MAG-5.6 earthquake hit in the North Pacific Ocean 146 kilometer from Guatemala City, Guatemala. Around 17 million people have been exposed to shaking. Mexico and El Salvador are also near its epicenter.

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Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the North Pacific Ocean, 25 kilometers (15 mi) off the coast of Guatemala, 146 kilometer southwest of Guatemala City. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 58 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Feb 5, 2025 01:01AM (Guatemala Time) - Feb 5, 2025 07:01 Universal Time.
Location:	146 km SW of Guatemala City, Guatemala, Guatemala. Coordinates 13°49'13"N 91°34'29"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.6 Detected by 71 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.037 .
Depth:	58 km (36 mi) A quite 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

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 17 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 17 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

An estimated 4,949,000 people were exposed to level IV. At this level, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 11 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Guatemala , around 16 million people, with impact levels up to IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Roughly 1.1 million people were exposed to shaking in Mexico . Shaking was experienced by inhabitants of El Salvador too.

Nearby towns and cities

Guatemala , Mexico and El Salvador are all located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.

Located 56 kilometer (35 mi) south-southwest of the epicenter of this earthquake, Tiquisate (Escuintla, Guatemala) is the nearest significant population center. Tiquisate experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Guatemala City is located 146 km to the north-east and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Mixco is located 138 km to the north-east and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Villa Nueva is located 132 km to the north-east 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 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 142 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 142 people have reported shaking in 32 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: 31 people.
• Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala: 30 people.
• Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala: 24 people.
• Mixco, Guatemala, Guatemala: 10 people.
• Olintepeque, Quezaltenango, Guatemala: 6 people.
• Panajachel, Sololá, Guatemala: 6 people.
• San Marcos la Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala: 5 people.
• Villa Nueva, Guatemala, Guatemala: 3 people.
• Jocotenango, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala: 3 people.
• La Gomera, Escuintla, Guatemala: 2 people.

Risk of aftershocks?

We monitor for foreshocks or aftershocks that have a magnitude of 2.5+ and occur within 100km (62 mi) of the epicenter of this earthquake. So far no such earthquakes have been detected.

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.

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 happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since January 9th, 2025, when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit 200 km (125 mi) further east. An even stronger magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck on September 8th, 2017.

In total, 41 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.6 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 3 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

Sources

Last updated 05/02/25 14:28 (). 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 us7000pbfb
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20250205_0000106
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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