Magnitude 5.5 earthquake shakes El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua

Thursday 13 August 2026 - 08:02

By: Sahili Aya

Magnitude 5.5 earthquake shakes El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of Central America on Wednesday evening, sending tremors through El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, according to the US Geological Survey and local seismic monitoring agencies.

No deaths, injuries or significant damage were reported following the earthquake.

The tremor occurred two days after a much stronger magnitude 7.4 earthquake in western Colombia, which caused more than 250 deaths, adding to heightened attention on seismic activity across the region.

Epicentre located offshore

The earthquake occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. local time, or 00:30 GMT on Thursday, at a depth of around 56.8 kilometres.

The USGS placed the epicentre in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Usulután department, roughly 160 kilometres south of the Salvadoran capital.

The offshore location and depth helped limit the impact on populated areas, despite the tremor being widely felt.

El Salvador's Ministry of Environment reported a slightly higher magnitude of 5.7 and said there was no tsunami threat for the country.

Tremors felt in Honduras and Nicaragua

Although the epicentre was located off El Salvador, the earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Honduras and Nicaragua.

Authorities reported no immediate casualties or structural damage.

The absence of major consequences was significant given the region's exposure to earthquakes, as Central America sits along a highly active tectonic zone where seismic events occur regularly.

No tsunami threat reported

El Salvador's authorities quickly ruled out a tsunami risk following the offshore earthquake.

The announcement provided reassurance to coastal communities after the tremor, particularly because the epicentre was located beneath the Pacific Ocean.

Emergency and seismic monitoring services nevertheless remained attentive to possible aftershocks, which can occur following a moderate or strong earthquake.