What the record shows for Honduras
The strongest earthquake on record near Honduras is a magnitude 7.7 in 1915, centred 12 km NW of Chalatenango, El Salvador - 111 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 665 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Honduras - roughly 33 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 9 tsunamis within 300 km of Honduras between 1539 and 2009. The most significant was in 1976 near Guatemala, triggered by an M7.5 earthquake, which killed around 23,000 people.
30 volcanoes are catalogued near Honduras, including Utila Island, Yojoa, Lago, Esteli, Zacate Grande, Isla, Tigre, Isla del, Conchaguita and 24 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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Honduras sits near the boundary between the Caribbean and North American 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 Honduras.
Earthquake risk in Honduras - FAQ
Is Honduras at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 33 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 Honduras?
The strongest earthquake on record near Honduras is M7.7, in 1915 (12 km NW of Chalatenango, El Salvador), from USGS.
Does Honduras get tsunamis?
Yes - 9 tsunamis since 1539 (most recently 2009) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 23,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Honduras?
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.