El Salvador sits on the Central American volcanic arc and experiences frequent earthquakes. This page pulls real records for El Salvador: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for El Salvador.
Check El Salvador hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk near El Salvador - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in El Salvador - FAQ
Is El Salvador at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 164 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.7 in 1915.
What was the biggest earthquake in El Salvador?
The strongest earthquake on record near El Salvador is M7.7, in 1915 (12 km NW of Chalatenango, El Salvador), from USGS.
Does El Salvador get tsunamis?
Yes - 21 tsunamis since 1539 (most recently 2016) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 23,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in El Salvador?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.