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Moderate mag. 5.3 earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 89 km west of Chinandega, Nicaragua, on Monday, Feb 27, 2023 at 12:46 pm (GMT -6) -

Moderate mag. 5.3 earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 89 km west of Chinandega, Nicaragua, on Monday, Feb 27, 2023 at 12:46 pm (GMT -6) Moderate mag. 5.3 earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 89 km west of Chinandega, Nicaragua, on Monday, Feb 27, 2023 at 12:46 pm (GMT -6)

Moderate magnitude 5.3 earthquake at 77 km depth

27 Feb 18:50 UTC: First to report: VolcanoDiscovery after 4 minutes.
27 Feb 18:53: Now using data updates from GFZ
27 Feb 19:04: Now using data updates from USGS
Update Mon, 27 Feb 2023, 19:00

Significant magnitude 5.2 quake hits 91 km west of Chinandega, Nicaragua around noon

5.2 quake 27 Feb 12:46 pm (GMT -6)
5.2 quake 27 Feb 12:46 pm (GMT -6)
The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported a magnitude 5.2 quake in Nicaragua near Chinandega, only 14 minutes ago. The earthquake hit around noon on Monday, February 27th, 2023, at 12:46 pm local time at an intermediate depth of 79 km. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.
A second report was later issued by France's Réseau National de Surveillance Sismique (RéNaSS), which listed it as a magnitude 5.0 earthquake. A third agency, the citizen-seismograph network of RaspberryShake, reported the same quake at magnitude 5.2.
Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter.
Weak shaking might have been felt in Jiquilillo (pop. 4,100) located 60 km from the epicenter, Corinto (pop. 19,200) 86 km away, El Viejo (pop. 53,500) 87 km away, La Union (pop. 26,800) 90 km away, Chinandega (pop. 126,400) 91 km away, and Leon (pop. 144,500) 118 km away.
VolcanoDiscovery will automatically update magnitude and depth if these change and follow up if other significant news about the quake become available. If you're in the area, please send us your experience through our reporting mechanism, either online or via our mobile app. This will help us provide more first-hand updates to anyone around the globe who wants to know more about this quake.

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Earthquake details

Date & timeFeb 27, 2023 18:46:06 UTC -
Local time at epicenterMonday, Feb 27, 2023 at 12:46 pm (GMT -6)
StatusConfirmed
Magnitude5.3
Depth77.3 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude12.6515°N / 87.9497°W (North Pacific Ocean, Nicaragua)
Antipode12.652°S / 92.05°E
Shaking intensityWeak shaking
Felt40 reports
Primary data sourceUSGS (United States Geological Survey)
Nearest volcanoCosigüina (55 km / 34 mi)
Nearby towns and cities55 km (34 mi) W of Jiquilillo (pop: 4,140) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
85 km (53 mi) W of El Viejo (pop: 53,500) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
89 km (55 mi) W of Chinandega (pop: 126,400) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
119 km (74 mi) W of Leon (pop: 144,500) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
154 km (96 mi) SSE of Sensuntepeque (El Salvador) (pop: 20,400) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
177 km (110 mi) SE of San Salvador (El Salvador) (pop: 526,000) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
178 km (111 mi) SSW of Tegucigalpa (Honduras) (pop: 850,800) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
193 km (120 mi) WNW of Managua (pop: 973,100) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
291 km (181 mi) WNW of Isla de Ometepe Island (pop: 30,000) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
Weather at epicenter at time of quakeBroken Clouds 26.5°C (80 F), humidity: 63%, wind: 4 m/s (7 kts) from SSW
Estimated seismic energy released5.6 x 1012 joules (1.56 gigawatt hours, equivalent to 1344 tons of TNT) | about seismic energy
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Data for the same earthquake reported by different agencies

Info: The more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.
Mag.DepthLocationSource
5.377 kmNear Chinandega, Chinandega, NicaraguaUSGS
5.377 kmNear Coast of NicaraguaRaspberryShake
5.535 km52 Km Al Suroeste De Punta Cosigüina, NicaraguaINETER
5.098 kmNicaragua: Near San MiguelRENASS
5.257 kmNear Coast of NicaraguaGFZ
5.380 kmNEAR COAST OF NICARAGUAEMSC
5.310 kmNear Coast Of NicaraguaIRIS
5.389 kmNear Coast of NicaraguaGeoAu

User reports for this quake (47)

User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale.
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Mejicanos, San salvador (182.7 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s : Alert notice first then few seconds later, quake started, very strong. I was in Mejicanos, el salvador having lunch | 2 users found this interesting.  
El Salvador, San Salvador (181.5 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : I was sitting down working and felt like a swigging horizontally like a wavy feeling, very short but with lots of movement. | 2 users found this interesting.  
Managua / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : I felt a very weak shaking, the early alert system in my building announced first and we could evacuate in time. | 2 users found this interesting.  
La libertad El Salvador (159.5 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : We were sitting in the car and for 2-5 seconds the car shakes for 2 times like someone push the car. | 2 users found this interesting.  
San Salvador (177.4 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 10-15 s : I had just came home when the quake started, it startled me at first. | 2 users found this interesting. (reported through our app)  
near Santa Tecla, La Libertad (195.6 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Everybody safe | 2 users found this interesting.  
Aposentillo (64.2 km E of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s : Sitting for lunch. Felt the table and chairs moving, water in the glass as well. | 2 users found this interesting.  
San Savador (182.5 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Colonia Escalon por residencia Presidencial, murillo Yamaha, se sintio como estar en una cama donde un niño de 6 años salta por 6 segundos.  
Hicaque Arizona atlantida (351.7 km N of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Estaba acostado en la cama y sentí como si estuviera temblando entonces no le di importancia y después mi madre dice que le callo una notificación de Google que decía*probablemente haigas sentido un sismo de 6.2* (reported through our app)  
Managua (197 km ESE of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short : My team felt it too | One user found this interesting.  
Comayagua (218.4 km N of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Sitting down. | One user found this interesting.  
Managua (195.7 km ESE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Felt moving all around | One user found this interesting.  
San Salvador / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s : Light shaking | One user found this interesting.  
Rivas, Tola (242.7 km ESE of epicenter) [Map] / not felt
Tegucigalpa (181.4 km NNE of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s
Omoa, cortes (349 km N of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : Around 5:50 am I feel it Honduras Time. Light Shaking.  
Tegucigalpa (181.4 km NNE of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s
Managua (189.5 km ESE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s (reported through our app)
San Salvador (181.4 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s
Managua (192.4 km ESE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 30-60 s
Leon (118.6 km E of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s (reported through our app)
SANTA ANA, EL SALVADOR (223.5 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s
Managua Nicaragua (165.6 km ESE of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) : Buen leve  
San Lorenzo, Valle , Honduras (101.4 km NNE of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Preocupacion  
El salvador (234.5 km WNW of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s
Ilopango, San Salvador (171.3 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) (reported through our app)
Ilopango, San salvador, el salvador (172.8 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s (reported through our app)
San lorenzo valle (102.1 km NNE of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s : Temblor cercano  
Jiquilillo / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s
Los blancos / not felt : Estaba en movimiento, por lo tanto no fue perceptible, ni recibí alerta del sismo (reported through our app)  
At home having lunch / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s
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Aftershocks

[More info]

Recorded aftershocks, latest first (34 quakes)

Date and timeMag
Depth
LocationDetails
Apr 27, 2023 00:23
6 weeks ago
2.8

26 km
North Pacific Ocean, 87 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Apr 24, 2023 08:50
6 weeks ago
2.4

39 km
North Pacific Ocean, 69 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Apr 22, 2023 15:25
6 weeks ago
3.0

33 km
North Pacific Ocean, 77 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Apr 12, 2023 15:58
8 weeks ago
4.2

35 km
North Pacific Ocean, 97 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Apr 12, 2023 01:10
8 weeks ago
2.8

31 km
North Pacific Ocean, 94 km SE of Usulutan, El SalvadorMore
Apr 11, 2023 22:03
8 weeks ago
3.1

32 km
North Pacific Ocean, 95 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Apr 11, 2023 12:15
8 weeks ago
3.1

36 km
North Pacific Ocean, 79 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Apr 10, 2023 07:21
8 weeks ago
3.1

32 km
North Pacific Ocean, 99 km W of El Viejo, Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Apr 9, 2023 08:12
8 weeks ago
3.2

34 km
North Pacific Ocean, 87 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Apr 3, 2023 09:17
9 weeks ago
3.1

29 km
North Pacific Ocean, 110 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 28, 2023 12:29
10 weeks ago
3.3

27 km
North Pacific Ocean, 90 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 27, 2023 02:33
10 weeks ago
2.7

30 km
North Pacific Ocean, 85 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 25, 2023 03:57
11 weeks ago
3.3

31 km
North Pacific Ocean, 95 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 24, 2023 19:18
11 weeks ago
2.0

25 km
North Pacific Ocean, 97 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 24, 2023 11:55
11 weeks ago
2.5

40 km
North Pacific Ocean, 96 km S of San Miguel, El SalvadorMore
Mar 23, 2023 08:42
11 weeks ago
2.5

50 km
North Pacific Ocean, 80 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 21, 2023 10:40
11 weeks ago
2.7

32 km
North Pacific Ocean, 90 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 19, 2023 09:45
11 weeks ago
2.2

32 km
North Pacific Ocean, 78 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 17, 2023 14:27
12 weeks ago
2.5

28 km
North Pacific Ocean, 97 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 17, 2023 11:37
12 weeks ago
2.5

34 km
North Pacific Ocean, 92 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 9, 2023 20:40
13 weeks ago
2.6

29 km
North Pacific Ocean, 99 km S of Usulutan, El SalvadorMore
Mar 7, 2023 22:27
13 weeks ago
3.7

30 km
North Pacific Ocean, 84 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 7, 2023 21:11
13 weeks ago
3.2

33 km
North Pacific Ocean, 87 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 7, 2023 09:38
13 weeks ago
2.8

30 km
North Pacific Ocean, 80 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 7, 2023 01:58
13 weeks ago
2.9

37 km
North Pacific Ocean, 95 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 5, 2023 23:09
13 weeks ago
4.3

68 km
North Pacific Ocean, El Salvador, 96 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 5, 2023 01:49
13 weeks ago
2.9

36 km
North Pacific Ocean, 95 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Mar 1, 2023 08:27
14 weeks ago
3.7

32 km
North Pacific Ocean, 97 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Feb 28, 2023 02:59
14 weeks ago
2.5

42 km
North Pacific Ocean, 98 km W of El Viejo, Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Feb 28, 2023 02:51
14 weeks ago
2.5

25 km
North Pacific Ocean, 97 km W of El Viejo, Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Feb 27, 2023 22:23
14 weeks ago
2.4

35 km
North Pacific Ocean, 99 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Feb 27, 2023 20:47
14 weeks ago
3.3

32 km
North Pacific Ocean, 98 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Feb 27, 2023 19:58
14 weeks ago
3.7

32 km
North Pacific Ocean, 97 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore
Feb 27, 2023 19:06
14 weeks ago
2.8

29 km
North Pacific Ocean, 97 km W of Chinandega, NicaraguaMore

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