Earthquakes in El Salvador
No events have been recorded in El Salvador in the past 30 days, though the great majority are too small to be felt at the surface. El Salvador sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and the depth distribution below shows the subducting slab beneath it directly.
1 earthquakes have been recorded in El Salvador in our catalogue, 0 of them in the past 30 days.
The average magnitude is 5.8 and the average focal depth 94 km. 1 events reached magnitude 4 or above and 1 reached magnitude 5 or above.
The strongest earthquake recorded in El Salvador in this period was a magnitude 5.8 event near Sonsonate, El Salvador on 09 January 2025, at a depth of 94 km. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake radiates roughly 7,558 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
Locations recording the most events include Sonsonate (1).
0% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 100% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). A substantial share of intermediate-depth events points to a subducting slab beneath the region rather than purely crustal faulting.
The deepest event on record here was a magnitude 5.8 earthquake at 94 km beneath Sonsonate, El Salvador on 09 January 2025.
By band, the catalogue holds 1 in the magnitude 5 range.
No event in this record carries a USGS link to NOAA tsunami information.
All recorded earthquakes in El Salvador
1 event listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Location | Depth (km) | Country | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.8 | Sonsonate, El Salvador | 94.5 | El Salvador | View details View |
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes have there been in El Salvador?
1 earthquakes are recorded in El Salvador in our catalogue, including 0 in the past 30 days and 1 of magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in El Salvador?
The largest recorded here was a magnitude 5.8 event near Sonsonate, El Salvador on 09 January 2025.
Is El Salvador at risk of earthquakes?
Earthquake hazard depends on proximity to active faults and plate boundaries rather than on national borders. The record for El Salvador shows 1 events of magnitude 4 or above, which is the band at which shaking becomes widely noticeable. Consult your national seismic hazard agency for building-code and preparedness guidance.
Earthquakes in El Salvador by month
Event counts for El Salvador reflect seismic network density as well as genuine activity. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.