Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake in Escuintla Department, Guatemala, kills two.

The United States Geological Survey Recorded a Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake at a depth of 83.6 km beneath the town of Nueva Concepción, in Escuintla Department, Guatemala, slightly after 1.10 am local time (slightly after 7.10 am GMT) on Wednesday 16 February 2022. Two people are reported to have died due to this event, both due to heart attacks, a number of buildings have been damaged, and several landslides triggered. People have reported feeling this event across Guatemala and El Salvador, as well as in parts of Honduras and Mexico.

 

 

The approximate location of the 16 January 2022 Guatemala Earthquake. USGS.

Guatemala is located on the southern part of the boundary between the North American and Caribbean Plates, close to their boundary with the Cocos Plate, which underlies part of the east Pacific. The Cocos Plate is being pushed northwards by expansion of the crust along the East Pacific Rise, and is subducted beneath the North American and Caribbean Plates along the Middle American Trench, which runs parallel to the south coast of Guatemala and neighbouring countries, passing under Central America as it sinks into the Earth's interior. This is not a smooth process, the plates tend to stick together, breaking apart again once the pressure from the northward movement of the Cocos Plate builds up to much, triggering Earthquakes.

 

Diagrammatic representation of the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate along the Middle American Trench. VCS Mining.

 

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Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake in Escuintla Department, Guatemala.

The United States Geological Survey Recorded a Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake at a depth of 79.4 km about 15 km to the east of the municipality of La Gomera in Esculinta Department in southern Guatemala, slightly before 5.35 am local time (slightly 11.35 am GMT) on Friday 16 December 2016. This event was felt across much of central and southern Guatemala, as well as parts of El Salvador, though there are no reports of any damage or casualties; which is roughly what would be expected from an Earthquake of this size at this depth; the quake is big enough to be felt over a wide area, but most of its energy has dissipated before the shock-waves reach the surface.

 

The approximate location of the 16 December 2016 Guatemala Earthquake. USGS.

 

Guatemala is located on the southern part of the Caribbean Plate, close to its boundary with the Cocos Plate, which underlies part of the east Pacific. The Cocos Plate is being pushed northwards by expansion of the crust along the East Pacific Rise, and is subducted beneath the Caribbean Plate along the Middle American Trench, which runs parallel to the south coast of Guatemala and neighbouring countries, passing under Central America as it sinks into the Earth's interior. This is not a smooth process, the plates tend to stick together, breaking apart again once the pressure from the northward movement of the Cocos Plate builds up to much, triggering Earthquakes. 

 

Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events, and the structures that cause them. The international non-profit organisation Earthquake Report is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to Earthquake Report here.

 

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Magnitude 4.3 Earthquake beneath Escuintla Department, Guatemala.

The United States Geological Survey Recorded a Magnitude 4.3 Earthquake at a depth of 78 km in the west of Esculinta Department in southern Guatemala, slightly before 4.50 am local time (slightly 10.50 am GMT) on Friday 21 August 2015. This event was felt across in the municipality of Jocotenango, though there are no reports of any damage or casualties; which is roughly what would be expected from an Earthquake of this size at this depth; the quake is big enough to be felt over a wide area, but most of its energy has dissipated before the shock-waves reach the surface.

The approximate location of the 21 August 2015 Esculinta Earthquake. Google Maps.

Guatemala is located on the southern part of the Caribbean Plate, close to its boundary with the Cocos Plate, which underlies part of the east Pacific. The Cocos Plate is being pushed northwards by expansion of the crust along the East Pacific Rise, and is subducted beneath the Caribbean Plate along the Middle American Trench, which runs parallel to the south coast of Guatemala and neighboring countries, passing under Central America as it sinks into the Earth's interior. This is not a smooth process, the plates tend to stick together, breaking apart again once the pressure from the northward movement of the Cocos Plate builds up to much, triggering Earthquakes. 

Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events, and the structures that cause them. The international non-profit organization Earthquake Report is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to Earthquake Report here.

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Evacuations ordered after violent eruptions on Mount Fuego in Guatemala.

The Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia in Guatemala has ordered an evacuation of communities close to Mount Fuego, an active volcano in the south of the country...

At least three dead following Mexico Earthquake.

At least three people have died and several dozen more have been injured, following an Earthquake in the southeast of the Mexican state of Chiapas slightly after 6.20 am local time (slightly after 11.20 am GMT)...

Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake in Esculinta Department, southern Guatemala.

The United States Geological Survey Recorded a Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake at a depth of 74.2 km in the east of Esculinta Department in southern Guatemala...

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Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake in Esculinta Department, southern Guatemala.

The United States Geological Survey Recorded a Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake at a depth of 74.2 km in the east of Esculinta Department in southern Guatemala, slightly after 6.25 am local time (slightly after 12.25 pm GMT) on Friday 13 June 2014. This event was felt across much of southern Guatemala, though there are no reports of any damage or casualties, which is roughly what would be expected from an Earthquake of this size at this depth; the quake is big enough to be felt over a wide area, but most of its energy has dissipated before the shock-waves reach the surface.

The approximate location of the 13 June 2014 Esculinta Earthquake. Google Maps.

Guatemala is located on the southern part of the Caribbean Plate, close to its boundary with the Cocos Plate, which underlies part of the east Pacific. The Cocos Plate is being pushed northwards by expansion of the crust along the East Pacific Rise, and is subducted beneath the Caribbean Plate along the Middle American Trench, which runs parallel to the south coast of Guatemala and neighboring countries, passing under Central America as it sinks into the Earth's interior. This is not a smooth process, the plates tend to stick together, breaking apart again once the pressure from the northward movement of the Cocos Plate builds up to much, triggering Earthquakes. 

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 Thousands may need to be evacuted following eruption on Mount Pacaya, Guatemala.

 Lava flows prompt evacuations on Mount Pacaya.

Authorities in Guatemala have evacuated a number of villages close to Mount Pacaya after lava began issuing from several vents on the flank of the mountain and flowing downhill. The volcano, which...

 Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake in southwest Guatemala causes at least one death.

A Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake at a depth of 67 km hit southeast...

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