El Salvador: Magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake near El Salvador at around 2335 Jan. 29

Event

A magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurred near El Salvador at around 2335 Jan. 29. The epicenter was around 53 km (33 miles) south of Intipuca. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 68 km (42 miles), and weak-to-light shaking was probably felt through western coastal areas of El Salvador, northwestern parts of Nicaragua, and southern parts of Honduras. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are possible over the coming days. The incident has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions.