What the record shows for Guatemala
The strongest earthquake on record near Guatemala is a magnitude 7.8 in 1902, centred Central Chiapas, Mexico - 124 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 2,825 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Guatemala - roughly 141 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 16 tsunamis within 300 km of Guatemala between 1539 and 2012. The most significant was in 1976 near Guatemala, triggered by an M7.5 earthquake, which killed around 23,000 people.
48 volcanoes are catalogued near Guatemala, including Chiquimula Volcanic Field, Agua, Tahual, Acatenango, Ipala, Pacaya and 42 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Guatemala lies on the boundary of the Caribbean, North American and Cocos plates.
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 Guatemala.
Earthquake risk in Guatemala - FAQ
Is Guatemala at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 141 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 M7.8 in 1902.
What was the biggest earthquake in Guatemala?
The strongest earthquake on record near Guatemala is M7.8, in 1902 (Central Chiapas, Mexico), from USGS.
Does Guatemala get tsunamis?
Yes - 16 tsunamis since 1539 (most recently 2012) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 23,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Guatemala?
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.