Champerico, Guatemala — Two moderate earthquakes struck off the southern coast of Guatemala on Wednesday, shaking areas near the Pacific shoreline and prompting monitoring from regional seismic networks.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake, a magnitude 5.0, occurred around 10:16 a.m. UTC approximately 67 kilometers south-southwest of Champerico at a depth of 21.6 kilometers. Roughly an hour later, a second quake measuring magnitude 4.6 was recorded 46 kilometers south-southwest of Champerico at a shallower depth of 10 kilometers around 11:58 a.m. UTC.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no damage or injuries had been reported. The Guatemalan National Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology Institute (INSIVUMEH) had not issued any tsunami warnings, and local authorities continued to monitor the situation.
The coastal region near Champerico sits along the Middle America Trench, an active subduction zone where the Cocos Plate pushes beneath the Caribbean Plate, making it prone to frequent seismic activity. Similar offshore quakes have occurred in recent years without major impacts inland.
Residents across southern Guatemala and parts of western El Salvador may have felt light to moderate shaking, though reports submitted to the USGS’s “Did You Feel It?” platform remained minimal as of mid-afternoon.
Authorities advised residents to remain cautious and review emergency preparedness plans, especially in coastal areas vulnerable to seismic events.
