Live seismic activity in Guatemala — updated every 60 seconds from USGS data. Guatemala is highly seismically active, sitting on the Caribbean Plate boundary with the Cocos Plate subduction zone.
Guatemala is highly seismically active, located along the Middle America Trench where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the Caribbean Plate. The 1976 Guatemala earthquake (M7.5) killed over 23,000 people and devastated the capital. Major faults include the Polochic Fault, the Motagua Fault (transform boundary), and the subduction interface. Notable quakes include 1976 Guatemala (M7.5), 1902 Quezaltenango (M7.5), 2012 San Marcos (M7.4). The seismic risk is very high. Tectonically, Guatemala lies on the Caribbean Plate with the Cocos Plate subducting beneath it, plus strike-slip motion along the Polochic-Motagua fault system. This page provides real‑time USGS data and historical context for Guatemala.
The region is defined by Polochic Fault, Motagua Fault, Middle America Trench subduction zone, and the risk level is classified as Very High. With a population of 17 million, understanding local seismic hazards is crucial.
Guatemala lies on Cocos Plate subducting beneath Caribbean Plate, plus strike-slip. The movement of these plates builds up stress, which is released as earthquakes. In subduction zones, one plate dives beneath another, generating some of the largest quakes on Earth. In some regions, strike‑slip faults produce frequent moderate earthquakes.
The strongest recorded earthquake in Guatemala was the 1976 Guatemala earthquake (M7.5). 1976 Guatemala (M7.5)
Guatemala experiences approximately 500-1,500 earthquakes per year, with 50-200 felt (M3.0+) and 5-10 potentially damaging events (M5.0+) annually, according to USGS historical data.
The most recent major earthquake in Guatemala was the 1976 Guatemala earthquake (M7.5). 1976 Guatemala (M7.5)
Yes. Guatemala is crossed by Polochic Fault, Motagua Fault, Middle America Trench subduction zone, making it prone to seismic activity. The seismic risk level is classified as Very High.
Drop, cover, and hold on. Stay away from windows, and if outdoors, move to an open area. After the shaking stops, check for injuries and be ready for aftershocks. Prepare an emergency kit with water, food, first aid, and a flashlight.
Data sources: USGS real‑time feed, USGS historical archive, and Wikipedia. Page refreshes live earthquake data every 60 seconds.