M4.6 Earthquake 112 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador — August 31, 2026
2026-08-31 18:56:28 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 12:56 PM UTC-6 local
Aftershock of the M5.5 mainshock.
On August 31, 2026 at 18:56 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 112 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 12.2440°, -88.4432°. This earthquake was detected by 39 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.5 mainshock that occurred 18 days ago 69 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-88.4432°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Chirilagua, El Salvador?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 112 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador on August 31, 2026 at 18:56 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 12.2440°, -88.4432°, which is 112 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.5 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.5 mainshock that occurred earlier 69 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000td5l). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 31, 2026). M4.6 Earthquake 112 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador — August 31, 2026. Retrieved August 31, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000td5l/