January 2001 El Salvador earthquake

January 2001 El Salvador earthquake
USGS ShakeMap
UTC time2001-01-13 17:33:32
ISC event1763440
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateJanuary 13, 2001 (2001-01-13)
Local time11:33:32 CTZ (UTC-6)
Duration20 seconds
MagnitudeMw 7.7
Depth60 km (37 mi)
Epicenter13°02′56″N 88°39′36″W / 13.049°N 88.660°W / 13.049; -88.660
TypeNormal
Areas affectedEl Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica
Total damageUS$1.25 billion ($2.22 billion in 2024, adjusted for inflation)
Max. intensityMMI VIII (Severe)
Peak acceleration0.82 g
Landslides≥16,000
Aftershocks3,502 ≥Mw2.5 (as of 13/02/2001)
Strongest: Mw6.1 on 28 February
Casualties952 fatalities, 5,565 injuries, 193 missing

On 13 January 2001, at 11:33 CTZ (17:33 UTC), a Mw 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Usulután Department, El Salvador, at a depth of 60 km (37 mi). At least 952 people were killed; 944 in El Salvador and 8 in Guatemala, over 5,500 were injured and nearly 200 were left missing due to the earthquake; every single department in the country reported casualties and severe damage, and damage from the earthquake was reported in five countries throughout Central America.