Live seismic activity in Honduras — updated every 60 seconds from USGS data. Honduras experiences moderate to strong earthquakes, mainly along the Caribbean Plate boundary and the Chixoy-Polochic fault system.
Honduras experiences moderate to strong earthquakes, located near the boundary of the Caribbean and North American plates. The 2009 Swan Islands earthquake (M7.3) struck offshore, causing strong shaking in northern Honduras. Major faults include the Chixoy-Polochic fault, the Motagua fault, and the Swan Islands transform fault. Notable quakes include 2009 Swan Islands (M7.3), 1998 La Ceiba (M5.9), 1939 Omoa (M6.0). The seismic risk is moderate. Tectonically, Honduras lies on the Caribbean Plate, with the North American Plate to the north, and is crossed by several strike-slip faults. This page provides real‑time USGS data and historical context for Honduras.
The region is defined by Chixoy-Polochic fault, Motagua fault, Swan Islands transform fault, and the risk level is classified as Moderate. With a population of 10.5 million, understanding local seismic hazards is crucial.
Honduras lies on Caribbean Plate sliding past North American Plate. 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 Honduras was the 2009 Swan Islands earthquake (M7.3). 2009 Swan Islands (M7.3)
Honduras experiences approximately 50-200 earthquakes per year, with 5-20 felt (M3.0+) and 0-2 potentially damaging events (M5.0+) annually, according to USGS historical data.
The most recent major earthquake in Honduras was the 2009 Swan Islands earthquake (M7.3). 2009 Swan Islands (M7.3)
Yes. Honduras is crossed by Chixoy-Polochic fault, Motagua fault, Swan Islands transform fault, making it prone to seismic activity. The seismic risk level is classified as Moderate.
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.