Guatemala: Magnitude-5.6 earthquake occurs offshore from Nueva Concepcion at around 11:16 Aug. 24

Event

A magnitude-5.6 earthquake occurred offshore of Guatemala at around 11:16 Aug. 24. The epicenter was about 99 km (62 miles) south-southwest of Nueva Concepcion, Escuintla Department. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles) and shaking was probably felt along the Guatemalan Pacific coast, as well as in Pacific coastal areas in El Salvador and Mexico's Chiapas State. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties; 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, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.