Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Strikes Near Los Amates, Guatemala
Areazine synthesizes this USGS earthquake report directly from USGS's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
A moderate magnitude 5.0 earthquake was recorded 15 kilometers north-northeast of Los Amates, Guatemala, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers on March 22, 2026.
What this USGS earthquake report tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by USGS on April 4, 2026 and geographically references Guatemala. Its severity classification of "medium" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Earthquakes - determines the monitoring protocol behind it, which shapes what follow-up action (checking for structural damage, watching for aftershocks, reviewing local building codes) is relevant and which agency holds authority over the assessment.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are earthquake, seismic, usgs, Guatemala.
What Happened
A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 mww occurred on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 17:35:31 UTC. The seismic event was centered approximately 15 kilometers north-northeast of Los Amates, Guatemala.
Location Details
The earthquake's epicenter was located at coordinates 15.3861° N and 89.0405° W. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the event occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers. Earthquakes at this depth are classified as shallow; shallow quakes are often felt more strongly at the surface than deeper events of the same magnitude.
Impact Assessment
There is currently no tsunami advisory, watch, or threat in effect following this earthquake (tsunami: 0). The USGS has not issued a specific color-coded alert level for this event, and no official felt reports were recorded in the source data at the time of reporting.
What You Should Know
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake is considered a "moderate" earthquake. While such events can cause damage to poorly constructed buildings, well-built structures typically sustain little to no damage. Residents in the region should remain aware of the possibility of aftershocks, which are routine following an event of this size.
Source
Information for this report was provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗
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