Recent earthquakes in El Salvador
El Salvador lies along the Central American volcanic arc, where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the Caribbean Plate offshore, and a chain of volcanic faults crosses the small country. Both offshore megathrust and shallow inland earthquakes threaten it. In 2001, two major earthquakes struck a month apart — an offshore M7.7 and a shallow inland M6.6 — causing widespread landslides. In the past 24 hours, El Salvador has recorded no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.3 | Sep 6, 04:00 UTC | 10 km | 155 km SSW of Acajutla, El Salvador |
Notable recent activity
An M4.3 earthquake struck 155 km SSW of Acajutla, El Salvador at 04:00 UTC on Sep 6 at a depth of 10 km.
Frequently asked questions
Why does El Salvador have earthquakes?
El Salvador faces two earthquake sources: the offshore subduction of the Cocos Plate, and shallow faults within the volcanic chain that crosses the country. The shallow inland quakes, though smaller, often cause the most damage.
How often do earthquakes strike El Salvador?
El Salvador records frequent small earthquakes and a damaging event roughly every decade. Its dense population, steep volcanic terrain, and soft soils make even moderate earthquakes hazardous through building collapse and landslides.
What was the biggest earthquake in El Salvador?
On January 13, 2001, a magnitude 7.7 offshore earthquake struck, followed on February 13 by a shallow magnitude 6.6 inland event. Together they killed over 1,000 people, many in landslides. The 1986 San Salvador earthquake (M5.7) was also highly destructive.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.