Under land 30 kilometer from Managua in Nicaragua, a significant Magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred in the morning of Monday November 17th, 2025. Other nearby countries are Honduras, Costa Rica and El Salvador.
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Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Nicaragua, 30 kilometer (19 mi) west of Managua. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 124 km.
| Date and Time: | Nov 17, 2025 11:23AM (Managua Time) - Nov 17, 2025 17:23 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 30 km west of Managua, Nicaragua. Coordinates 12°5'38"N 86°31'39"W. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 5.2 Detected by 52 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.043 . |
| Depth: | 124 km (77 mi) An intermediate depth. |
| Tsunami Risk: | Tsunami very unlikely Tsunami's are usually caused by MAG-6.5+ earthquakes, less than 100km shallow, and with an epicenter under sea. Neither of this seems to be the case. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Nearby towns and cities
4 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Nicaragua , Honduras , Costa Rica and El Salvador .
Nagarote in León, Nicaragua is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 20 kilometer (12 mi) south-southeast of Nagarote.
Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Managua is located 30 km to the east. Tegucigalpa is located 233 km to the north-northwest. León is located 54 km to the northwest.
An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 20 km (12 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Nagarote León, Nicaragua. |
| 21 km (13 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Ciudad Sandino Managua, Nicaragua. |
| 26 km (16 mi) ESE from epicenter |
El Crucero Managua, Nicaragua. |
| 29 km (18 mi) SSE from epicenter |
San Rafael del Sur Managua, Nicaragua. |
| 30 km (19 mi) E from epicenter |
Managua Managua, Nicaragua. |
| 32 km (20 mi) NNW from epicenter |
La Paz Centro León, Nicaragua. |
| 41 km (25 mi) SE from epicenter |
Diriamba Carazo, Nicaragua. |
| 41 km (25 mi) ESE from epicenter |
San Marcos Carazo, Nicaragua. |
| 45 km (28 mi) SE from epicenter |
Jinotepe Carazo, Nicaragua. |
| 46 km (29 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Masatepe Masaya, Nicaragua. |
| 48 km (30 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Tipitapa Managua, Nicaragua. |
| 49 km (30 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Masaya Masaya, Nicaragua. |
| 54 km (34 mi) NW from epicenter |
León León, Nicaragua. |
| 64 km (40 mi) SE from epicenter |
Nandaime Granada, Nicaragua. |
| 65 km (40 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Granada Granada, Nicaragua. |
| 76 km (47 mi) NW from epicenter |
Chichigalpa Chinandega, Nicaragua. |
| 82 km (51 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Corinto Chinandega, Nicaragua. |
| 89 km (55 mi) NW from epicenter |
Chinandega Chinandega, Nicaragua. |
| 94 km (58 mi) NW from epicenter |
El Viejo Chinandega, Nicaragua. |
| 103 km (64 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Boaco Boaco, Nicaragua. |
| 106 km (66 mi) SE from epicenter |
Rivas Rivas, Nicaragua. |
| 113 km (70 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Somotillo Chinandega, Nicaragua. |
| 113 km (70 mi) N from epicenter |
Estelí Estelí, Nicaragua. |
| 114 km (71 mi) NE from epicenter |
Matagalpa Matagalpa, Nicaragua. |
| 115 km (71 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Camoapa Boaco, Nicaragua. |
| 125 km (78 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Jinotega Jinotega, Nicaragua. |
| 126 km (78 mi) E from epicenter |
Juigalpa Chontales, Nicaragua. |
| 152 km (94 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ciudad Choluteca Choluteca, Honduras. |
| 154 km (96 mi) N from epicenter |
Somoto Madriz, Nicaragua. |
| 170 km (106 mi) NE from epicenter |
Río Blanco Matagalpa, Nicaragua. |
| 171 km (106 mi) N from epicenter |
Ocotal Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua. |
| 178 km (111 mi) NW from epicenter |
San Lorenzo Valle, Honduras. |
| 197 km (122 mi) N from epicenter |
El Paraíso El Paraíso, Honduras. |
| 198 km (123 mi) SE from epicenter |
San José Alajuela, Costa Rica. |
| 199 km (124 mi) NW from epicenter |
La Unión La Unión, El Salvador. |
| 201 km (125 mi) SE from epicenter |
Liberia Guanacaste, Costa Rica. |
| 208 km (129 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Jalapa Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua. |
| 216 km (134 mi) N from epicenter |
Danlí El Paraíso, Honduras. |
| 230 km (143 mi) E from epicenter |
Nueva Guinea South Caribbean Coast, Nicaragua. |
| 233 km (145 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Tegucigalpa Francisco Morazán, Honduras. |
| 237 km (147 mi) NW from epicenter |
San Miguel San Miguel, El Salvador. |
| 242 km (150 mi) SE from epicenter |
Cañas Guanacaste, Costa Rica. |
| 244 km (152 mi) NW from epicenter |
San Rafael Oriente San Miguel, El Salvador. |
| 247 km (153 mi) NW from epicenter |
San Francisco Morazán, El Salvador. |
| 251 km (156 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Usulután Usulután, El Salvador. |
| 251 km (156 mi) E from epicenter |
Rama South Caribbean Coast, Nicaragua. |
| 256 km (159 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Puerto El Triunfo Usulután, El Salvador. |
| 263 km (163 mi) NE from epicenter |
Siuna North Caribbean Coast, Nicaragua. |
| 277 km (172 mi) NNW from epicenter |
La Paz La Paz, Honduras. |
| 288 km (179 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Comayagua Comayagua, Honduras. |
| 288 km (179 mi) N from epicenter |
Juticalpa Olancho, Honduras. |
| 298 km (185 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Zacatecoluca La Paz, El Salvador. |
| 299 km (186 mi) SE from epicenter |
Puntarenas Puntarenas, Costa Rica. |
| 300 km (186 mi) NW from epicenter |
San Vicente San Vicente, El Salvador. |
Shaking reported by 16 people in 3 countries
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 16 people have reported shaking in 12 places in 3 countries (Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.
Places with most reports:
- Diriamba, Carazo, Nicaragua: 3 people.
- Managua, Managua, Nicaragua: 3 people.
- Villa El Carmen, Managua, Nicaragua: 1 person.
- Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, Costa Rica: 1 person.
- León, León, Nicaragua: 1 person.
- San Juan del Sur, Rivas, Nicaragua: 1 person.
- Tegucigalpa, Distrito Central, Honduras: 1 person.
- Sámara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica: 1 person.
- Tipitapa, Managua, Nicaragua: 1 person.
- San Juan de Oriente, Masaya, Nicaragua: 1 person.
4 Aftershocks detected
Since this main shock, 4 smaller aftershocks were detected. A 4 magnitude earthquake hit 3 days later 83 km (52 mi) south-southeast of this earthquake.
In the days before this main shock, 2 smaller foreshocks were detected. A 3.5 magnitude earthquake hit 1 day earlier nearby.
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
| Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreshock | M 3.5 |
1 day earlier Nov 16, 2025 12:27AM (Managua Time) | 96 km (60 mi) W from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.7 |
15 hrs earlier Nov 16, 2025 08:52PM (Managua Time) | 98 km (61 mi) W from Main Shock. |
| Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 5.2 |
Nov 17, 2025 11:23AM (Managua Time) | - |
| Aftershock | M 3.5 |
6 hrs later Nov 17, 2025 05:21PM (Managua Time) | 74 km (46 mi) WSW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.2 |
12 hrs later Nov 17, 2025 11:14PM (Managua Time) | 98 km (61 mi) W from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.9 |
2 days later Nov 19, 2025 05:38AM (Managua Time) | 82 km (51 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 4.0 |
3 days later Nov 20, 2025 01:26AM (Managua Time) | 83 km (52 mi) SSE 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.
The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk
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 June 18th, 2025, when a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit 247 km (154 mi) further west-northwest. An even stronger magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck on November 24th, 2016.
In total, 48 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 3 months.
Tsunami very unlikely
It is very unlikely that this eartquake will cause any tsunami's. The reported magnitude is lower than the MAG-6.5 strength required to cause any earthquakes. In addition, this earthquake was not very shallow and appears to have occurred under land. 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 | This earthquake appears to have struck on land near a coastal area (19 km from the sea). | Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.2. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 124 km (77 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 14/12/25 20:08 (). 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.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000rnrz
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20251117_0000342
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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