M5.4 Earthquake 60 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua — March 30, 2026
2026-03-30 07:30:25 UTC (2026-03-30) · approx. 1:30 AM UTC-6 local
Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.1 (moderate).
On March 30, 2026 at 07:30 UTC, a magnitude 5.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 60 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 11.3880°, -86.8964°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 197 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 449, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is San Rafael del Sur (population 42,417).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 2 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 3.2 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Nearest Populated Places
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 4,140,051 |
| MMI 4 | light | 480,138 |
Earthquake Details
-86.8964°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.4 earthquake near Masachapa, Nicaragua?
The magnitude 5.4 earthquake that struck 60 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua on March 30, 2026 at 07:30 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 11.3880°, -86.8964°, which is 60 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua. The nearest populated place is San Rafael del Sur (population 42,417).
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.4 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000s8pl). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, March 30, 2026). M5.4 Earthquake 60 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua — March 30, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000s8pl/