El Salvador, Guatemala: Magnitude-5.4 offshore earthquake occurs in Pacific Ocean, near Central American coast, at around 15:31 CST July 8

Event

A magnitude-5.4 offshore earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean near the coasts of Guatemala and El Salvador at around 15:31 CST July 8. The epicenter was about 64 km (40 miles) south-southwest of Acajutla, El Salvador. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 27 km (17 miles), and light shaking was probably felt throughout coastal areas of Guatemala and El Salvador. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event 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.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity.