Moderate magnitude 4.2 earthquake at 9 km depth27 Dec 03:21 UTC: First to report: INETER after 7 minutes.27 Dec 03:22: Now using data updates from EMSCI didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeDec 27, 2025 03:13:55 UTC - Local time at epicenterFriday, Dec 26, 2025, at 09:13 pm (GMT -6)StatusconfirmedMagnitude4.2Depth9 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude12.42°N / 90.25°WEl SalvadorSeismic antipode12.42°S / 89.75°EShaking intensityIV Light shaking near epicenterFelt0 reportsPrimary data sourceEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)Nearest volcanoIzalco (169 km / 105 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeClear Sky 27.3°C (81 F), humidity: 68%, wind: 1 m/s (1 kts) from EEstimated seismic energy released1.3 x 1011 joules (35 megawatt hours, equivalent to 30.1 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 4.2 | about seismic energy16 minutes agoDec 27, 2025 03:13 GMT / Dec 26, 2025 09:13 pm (GMT -6)Lat / Lng: 12.42 / -90.25: Off the Coast OF EL SalvadorSource: EMSCOther sources: INETER: 4.2 / 9 kmDetail info | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-22545733',12.42000,-90.25000,'16 minutes ago: Mag. 4.2, Off the Coast OF EL Salvador',html,'quakes-6-24.png',25,25,12,12,125]); function mkRep(id,notFelt){var nFelt=notFelt||false;var src="https://www.volcanoesandearthquakes.com/app/earthquake-report.php?quakeId="+id;if(nFelt==true){src+="¬Felt=true";}window.open(src,"","status=0,toolbar=0,location=0,directories=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,scrollbars=1,height=400,width=350");} function locationHashChanged(e){-1!=e.oldURL.indexOf("#popupMap")&&closePopup()} window.onhashchange = locationHashChanged; function comment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=(t.dataset.id,document.getElementById("commentForm"));"none"==a.style.display?(t.appendChild(a),a.style.display="block"):a.style.display="none"}function sendComment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=t.parentNode.dataset.id,n=document.getElementById("commentContent"),p=n.value.trim();if(p){var o="id="+a+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId;o+="&comment="+decodeURIComponent(p),mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",o,function(e){e.responseText;alert("Thank you for submitting your comment!"),t.style.display="none",n.value=""})}}function flagReport(e){var t=e.parentNode.dataset.id;if(confirm("Report this as inappropriate?")){var a="id="+t+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&flagAsInappropriate=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",a,function(t){var a=t.responseText;alert(a),e.style.display="none"})}}function likeReport(e){var t="id="+e.parentNode.dataset.id+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&like=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",t,function(t){t.responseText;e.style.opacity=.5})}]]>[smaller] [bigger]Most recent quakes Top 20 past 24 hrs Quakes in El SalvadorNearby placesThe closest larger town where the quake might have been felt is Acajutla, a town with 23,000 inhabitants in El Salvador, in 138 km (86 mi) distance north of the epicenter. People likely experienced very weak shaking there. In the capital of El Salvador, San Salvador, 182 km (113 mi) away from the epicenter, the earthquake was probably felt as very weak shaking.The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking.DistancePlaceMax. shaking intensity(*)RegionCountry138 km (86 mi)N of epicenterAcajutla(pop: 22,800)II: Very weakDepartamento de SonsonateEl Salvador155 km (96 mi)N of epicenterSonsonate(pop: 59,500)II: Very weakDepartamento de SonsonateEl Salvador156 km (97 mi)NE of epicenterLa Libertad(pop: 16,900)II: Very weakDepartamento de La LibertadEl Salvador157 km (98 mi)N of epicenterSonzacate(pop: 15,400)II: Very weakDepartamento de SonsonateEl Salvador160 km (99 mi)N of epicenterIzalco(pop: 19,200)II: Very weakDepartamento de SonsonateEl Salvador173 km (107 mi)N of epicenterAhuachapan(pop: 34,100)II: Very weakDepartamento de AhuachapanEl Salvador175 km (109 mi)NE of epicenterSanta Tecla(pop: 124,700)II: Very weakDepartamento de La LibertadEl Salvador176 km (109 mi)NE of epicenterAntiguo Cuscatlan(pop: 33,800)II: Very weakDepartamento de La LibertadEl Salvador180 km (112 mi)NE of epicenterSan Marcos(pop: 54,600)II: Very weakDepartamento de San SalvadorEl Salvador182 km (113 mi)NE of epicenterSan Salvador(pop: 526,000)II: Very weakDepartamento de San SalvadorEl Salvador185 km (115 mi)N of epicenterChalchuapa(pop: 32,300)II: Very weakDepartamento de Santa AnaEl Salvador185 km (115 mi)NE of epicenterMejicanos(pop: 160,300)II: Very weakDepartamento de San SalvadorEl Salvador185 km (115 mi)NE of epicenterAyutuxtepeque(pop: 25,400)II: Very weakDepartamento de San SalvadorEl Salvador186 km (115 mi)NE of epicenterCuscatancingo(pop: 44,400)II: Very weakDepartamento de San SalvadorEl Salvador186 km (116 mi)NE of epicenterDelgado(pop: 71,600)II: Very weakDepartamento de San SalvadorEl Salvador187 km (116 mi)NE of epicenterSoyapango(pop: 329,700)II: Very weakDepartamento de San SalvadorEl Salvador189 km (117 mi)NE of epicenterIlopango(pop: 38,900)II: Very weakDepartamento de San SalvadorEl Salvador189 km (118 mi)NE of epicenterQuezaltepeque(pop: 28,900)II: Very weakQuezaltepeque, Departamento de La LibertadEl Salvador190 km (118 mi)NE of epicenterSanta Ana(pop: 176,700)II: Very weakDepartamento de Santa AnaEl Salvador192 km (120 mi)NE of epicenterZacatecoluca(pop: 39,600)II: Very weakDepartamento de La PazEl Salvador193 km (120 mi)NE of epicenterApopa(pop: 112,200)II: Very weakDepartamento de San SalvadorEl Salvador203 km (126 mi)NE of epicenterCojutepeque(pop: 48,400)II: Very weakDepartamento de CuscatlanEl Salvador206 km (128 mi)NE of epicenterAguilares(pop: 21,400)II: Very weakDepartamento de San SalvadorEl Salvador208 km (129 mi)NE of epicenterPuerto El Triunfo(pop: 19,100)II: Very weakDepartamento de UsulutanEl Salvador209 km (130 mi)NE of epicenterSan Vicente(pop: 41,500)II: Very weakDepartamento de San VicenteEl Salvador209 km (130 mi)NE of epicenterSan Martin(pop: 39,400)II: Very weakDepartamento de CuscatlanEl Salvador211 km (131 mi)N of epicenterJutiapa(pop: 145,900)II: Very weakDepartamento de JutiapaGuatemala217 km (135 mi)N of epicenterEscuintla(pop: 156,300)II: Very weakDepartamento de EscuintlaGuatemala222 km (138 mi)NE of epicenterUsulutan(pop: 51,900)II: Very weakDepartamento de UsulutanEl Salvador227 km (141 mi)NE of epicenterSantiago de Maria(pop: 15,000)II: Very weakDepartamento de UsulutanEl Salvador229 km (142 mi)N of epicenterSanta Lucia Cotzumalguapa(pop: 112,800)II: Very weakMunicipio de Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa, Departamento de EscuintlaGuatemala229 km (143 mi)NE of epicenterChalatenango(pop: 19,400)II: Very weakDepartamento de ChalatenangoEl Salvador230 km (143 mi)N of epicenterMetapan(pop: 19,100)II: Very weakDepartamento de Santa AnaEl Salvador232 km (144 mi)N of epicenterVilla Canales(pop: 155,400)I: Not feltDepartamento de GuatemalaGuatemala232 km (144 mi)NE of epicenterSan Rafael Oriente(pop: 19,100)I: Not feltDepartamento de San MiguelEl Salvador234 km (145 mi)N of epicenterPetapa(pop: 135,400)I: Not feltDepartamento de GuatemalaGuatemala237 km (147 mi)N of epicenterVilla Nueva(pop: 618,400)I: Not feltDepartamento de GuatemalaGuatemala239 km (149 mi)NE of epicenterSensuntepeque(pop: 20,400)I: Not feltDepartamento de CabanasEl Salvador253 km (157 mi)NE of epicenterSan Miguel(pop: 247,100)I: Not feltDepartamento de San MiguelEl Salvador272 km (169 mi)NE of epicenterSan Francisco(pop: 16,200)I: Not feltDepartamento de MorazanEl SalvadorNotes:(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.User-reports for this quakeThere are no user reports for this quake yet.If you felt it, be the first to report it!Compare Quake DataData for the same earthquake as reported by different agenciesThe more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.MagDepthTime GMT2025-12-27EpicenterAgency4.29 km5.6 mi03:13:55OFF THE COAST OF EL SALVADOREMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)4.29 km5.6 mi03:13:55137 Km al sur de Acajutla, El Salvador1 km (0.6 mi) epicenter difference with EMSCINETERAftershocks for this quakeNo aftershocks have been recorded so far. When aftershocks are detected, we will update this section.What are aftershocks?Larger earthquakes (above magnitude 5 or so) such as this one are usually followed by smaller ones known as aftershocks that occur in the same area during the days, weeks, months or even years after the main shock.[More info]What about this quake?Based on its magnitude, the fault that was active during the quake likely ruptured beneath a surface area of approximately 2 km2 (1 square miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 2 km (1 mi).[More info]Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)Dec 26, 2025 09:13 pm (GMT -6)16 minutes ago4.29 km0 km - This quakeNorth Pacific Ocean, 182 km SW of San Salvador, El SalvadorMain Shock (this quake)MoreMap of aftershocksEarthquake statisticsAverage number of earthquakesBased on data from the past 55 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 252 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 7 or higher: 0.02 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 62.5 years)Mag. 6 or higher: 0.06 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 15.6 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 0.76 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 1.3 years)Mag. 4 or higher: 24.8 quakes per yearMag. 3 or higher: 159 quakes per year (or 13.2 quakes per month)Mag. 2 or higher: 250 quakes per year (or 20.8 quakes per month)The area where this quake occurred has a high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 2 quakes above magnitude 7 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 60 to 65 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeThe earthquake occurred 2 weeks after a magnitude 4.3 earthquake had hit on Thursday, Dec 11, 2025, at 06:40 pm (GMT -6 local time) in 48 km (30 mi) distance to the northeast:Mag. 4.3 earthquake North Pacific Ocean - 134 km southwest of San Salvador, El Salvador - Dec 11, 2025 - The largest quake near the epicenter of this quake during the 10 years before was an event of magnitude 6.1. It had occurred 7 years earlier, on Sunday, Oct 28, 2018, at 04:23 pm (GMT -6 local time) in North Pacific Ocean, El Salvador:Mag. 6.1 earthquake North Pacific Ocean - 84 km southwest of Acajutla, El Salvador - Oct 28, 2018 - The strongest-ever (since 1900) recorded quake in this area measured magnitude 7.9. It had occurred 110 years ago earlier, on Monday, Sep 6, 1915, at 07:20 pm local time (America/El Salvador GMT -6) in Departamento de Chalatenango, El Salvador:Mag. 7.9 earthquake Departamento de Chalatenango - 40 km northeast of San Salvador, El Salvador - Sep 6, 1915 - Below is a list and map of larger or recent quakes that had occurred near the epicenter before this earthquake (within up to 100 km/61 mi distance, up to 300 km/183 mi for very large quakes above mag. 7). Filter and sort the list by magnitude or time.Max results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageDate and TimeMagDepthDistanceLocationDetailsMapDec 26, 02:00 am (GMT -6)4.06 km83 km (51 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, Guatemala I FELT ITInfoDec 11, 06:40 pm (GMT -6)4.316 km48 km (30 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 134 km southwest of San Salvador, El SalvadorInfoDec 11, 12:16 pm (GMT -6)4.41 km24 km (15 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 159 km southwest of San Salvador, El Salvador 1 reportInfoDec 11, 11:18 am (GMT -6)4.943 km62 km (39 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 97 km south of Sonsonate, El SalvadorInfoDec 10, 05:02 pm (GMT -6)4.210 km94 km (58 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 66 km south of Sonsonate, El SalvadorInfoDec 7, 04:35 pm (GMT -6)4.325 km77 km (48 mi) to the N Offshore EL SalvadorInfoAug 23, 03:14 am (GMT -6)6.010 km74 km (46 mi) to the N 81 km SW of Acajutla, El Salvador 86 reportsInfoJul 29, 2023 07:10 pm (GMT -6)5.79 km83 km (52 mi) to the NW Off the Coast of Central America 7 reportsInfoNov 22, 2021 11:56 pm (GMT -6)5.518 km63 km (39 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 100 km southwest of Sonsonate, El Salvador 11 reportsInfoMar 25, 2021 02:13 am (GMT -6)5.528 km98 km (61 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 90 km southwest of San Salvador, El Salvador 40 reportsInfoOct 28, 2018 04:23 pm (GMT -6)6.110 km72 km (45 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 84 km southwest of Acajutla, El Salvador 2 reportsInfoMay 12, 2017 04:51 am (GMT -6)5.316 km81 km (51 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 57 km south of Acajutla, El Salvador 3 reportsInfoMay 12, 2017 04:41 am (GMT -6)6.116 km66 km (41 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 120 km southwest of San Salvador, El Salvador 10 reportsInfoOct 13, 2014 09:51 pm (GMT -6)7.243 km240 km (149 mi) to the ENorth Pacific Ocean, 66 km west of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua 88 reportsInfoMar 10, 2013 04:18 am (GMT -6)5.58 km61 km (38 mi) to the NWNorth Pacific Ocean, 204 km south of Guatemala City, GuatemalaInfoDec 13, 2012 03:26 pm (GMT -6)5.310 km79 km (49 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 60 km south of Acajutla, El SalvadorInfoNov 7, 2012 10:35 am (GMT -6)7.424 km249 km (155 mi) to the NW 33 km S of Champerico, Guatemala 8 reportsInfoAug 26, 2012 10:37 pm (GMT -6)7.328 km183 km (114 mi) to the ENorth Pacific Ocean, 184 km south of San Salvador, El SalvadorInfoMar 4, 2006 02:11 am (GMT -6)5.728 km99 km (62 mi) to the ENorth Pacific Ocean, 99 km south of La Libertad, El SalvadorInfoDec 16, 2005 04:24 am (GMT -6)5.735 km81 km (51 mi) to the ENorth Pacific Ocean, 164 km south of San Salvador, El SalvadorInfoJul 13, 2003 03:21 pm (GMT -6)5.433 km56 km (35 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 100 km south of Sonsonate, El SalvadorInfoJul 12, 2003 07:59 pm (GMT -6)5.533 km61 km (38 mi) to the N offshore El SalvadorInfoJan 13, 2001 11:33 am (El Salvador)7.760 km186 km (116 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 41 km southwest of Usulutan, El SalvadorInfoDec 18, 1996 08:50 pm (GMT -6)5.533 km77 km (48 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 78 km south of Sonsonate, El SalvadorInfoSep 2, 1992 04:01 am (GMT -6)5.635 km64 km (40 mi) to the SENorth Pacific Ocean, 179 km south of San Salvador, El SalvadorInfoApr 5, 1992 09:06 am (GMT -6)5.450 km76 km (47 mi) to the SNorth Pacific Ocean, 249 km southwest of San Salvador, El SalvadorInfoJan 14, 1992 04:56 am (GMT -6)5.550 km99 km (62 mi) to the SWNorth Pacific Ocean, 262 km south of Escuintla, GuatemalaInfoJan 29, 1991 04:46 pm (GMT -6)5.451 km85 km (53 mi) to the NWNorth Pacific Ocean, 199 km south of Guatemala City, GuatemalaInfoDec 11, 1990 02:57 am (GMT -6)5.432 km93 km (58 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 94 km southwest of San Salvador, El SalvadorInfoOct 12, 1985 02:29 pm (GMT -6)5.842 km100 km (62 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 83 km southwest of San Salvador, El SalvadorInfoJun 2, 1985 08:45 pm (GMT -6)6.366 km85 km (53 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 75 km southwest of Sonsonate, El SalvadorInfoNov 1, 1984 09:48 pm (GMT -6)5.472 km99 km (62 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 94 km southwest of San Salvador, El SalvadorInfoDec 1, 1983 09:09 pm (Guatemala)7.067 km258 km (160 mi) to the NWNorth Pacific Ocean, 97 km southwest of Quetzaltenango, GuatemalaInfoNov 24, 1982 04:23 am (GMT -6)5.529 km90 km (56 mi) to the NWNorth Pacific Ocean, 214 km south of Guatemala City, GuatemalaInfoJun 19, 1982 12:21 am (El Salvador)7.273 km138 km (86 mi) to the NE offshore El SalvadorInfoJul 29, 1953 12:15 pm (GMT -6)5.925 km72 km (45 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 88 km southwest of Sonsonate, El SalvadorInfoApr 1, 1951 06:13 pm (GMT -6)6.055 km97 km (60 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 96 km southwest of San Salvador, El SalvadorInfoOct 23, 1950 04:13 pm (Universal Time)7.165 km277 km (172 mi) to the NW 1 km NNW of Champerico, GuatemalaInfoAug 6, 1942 11:37 pm (Universal Time)7.735 km188 km (117 mi) to the NWNorth Pacific Ocean, 63 km southwest of Escuintla, GuatemalaInfoAug 16, 1939 05:07 pm (Universal Time)5.935 km68 km (42 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 89 km south of Sonsonate, El SalvadorInfoMay 21, 1932 10:10 am (Universal Time)7.015 km273 km (170 mi) to the ENorth Pacific Ocean, 16 km south of La Union, El SalvadorInfoApr 27, 1929 11:41 am (Universal Time)5.715 km85 km (53 mi) to the NWNorth Pacific Ocean, 200 km south of Guatemala City, GuatemalaInfoFeb 15, 1929 08:04 am (Universal Time)6.115 km72 km (44 mi) to the ENorth Pacific Ocean, 130 km south of San Salvador, El SalvadorInfoJan 24, 1929 08:36 pm (Universal Time)7.015 km76 km (47 mi) to the NW offshore GuatemalaInfoFeb 8, 1926 03:18 pm (Universal Time)7.120 km158 km (98 mi) to the ENorth Pacific Ocean, 161 km south of San Salvador, El SalvadorInfoSep 6, 1915 07:20 pm (El Salvador)7.90 km222 km (138 mi) to the NEDepartamento de Chalatenango, 40 km northeast of San Salvador, El SalvadorInfoJul 1, 1907 01:08 pm (Universal Time)7.115 km275 km (171 mi) to the E 116 km SW of Corinto, NicaraguaInfoApr 18, 1902 08:23 pm (Guatemala)7.50 km194 km (120 mi) to the NWInfoNov 9, 1900 04:10 pm (Universal Time)7.00 km70 km (43 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 85 km south of Sonsonate, El SalvadorInfoMap of earlier quakes in the area of this quakeMax results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageOldest quakes are shown in yellow, most recent in red.[quakes -][quakes +][smaller][bigger]