December 20, 1862 Earthquake: Guatemala, El Salvador

1862 Dec 20, 01:15. 12.68 N 86.98 W. (reference #1199)

1862 Dec 19. Guatemala, Nicaragua. Also felt in Honduras and throughout Salvador (reference #1055)

1862 Dec 20, 19:15-19:45 (local). Guatemala and neighbouring countries were affected by a major earthquake. In Antigua, 26 houses destroyed and damage to churches. Major damage in Escuintla, Alotenango, Solola, Totonicapan, Tecpan-Guatemala and haciendas in the area of Chimaltenango and port of San Jose.

Moderate damage in Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango, Amatitlan and Duenas, and in localities of El Salvador such as Zacatecoluca, San Vicente, Cojutepeque, Sensuntepeque, Santa Ana, Ilobasco, Chalatenango. However, in Santa Tecla, Izalco, Sonsonate, Nahuizalco, Atiquizaya, Quezaltepeque, Nejapa and especially in Metapan and Ahuachapan, there was damage, in San Salvador it was felt strongly, but without significant damage, and it extended to Chinandega in Nicaragua, Belize and was felt throughout Honduras. Leeds places the epicentral zone at 12.68 N - 86.98 W; according to the damage distribution, the epicentral zone should be around 14.5 N - 90.6 W. (reference #124)

1862 Dec 19. MMI IX. ritcher magnitude 6.5-7 (reference #1626)

1862 Dec 19. Probable origen in central segment of subduction zone (reference #14059)

1862 Dec 19. VIII: Santa Ana, Ahuachapan, Sonsonate, La Libertad (S); VII: Escuintla, Chimaltenango (G) to Ahuachapan. especially great to great damage [2+ min]; considerable damage, aftershocks continuous through December 31, 1862, plus January 4, 8, 10, 15, 20, and 24, 1863. Epicenter at 13°50 N 89°35 S (reference #14066)

Note: epicenters vary widely including placement in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua.