Magnitude 7.1 Strikes Offshore Honduras
Magnitude 7.1 quake struck offshore Honduras, killing at least one person at La Lima and damaging several buildings Thursday. The quake was felt throughout Honduras as well as in Belize, where several buildings were also damaged or destroyed, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Nicaragua.
Seiche in swimming pools reported at La Ceiba and Roatan, USGS Felt Report said. No tsunami warning was issued.
The mainshock was followed by a 4.8 Mw aftershock, about 40 minutes later.
Location Map. 10-degree Map Centered at 15°N,85°W [USGS]
Earthquake Details:
Magnitude 7.1
Date-Time:
- Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 08:24:45 UTC
- Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 03:24:45 AM at epicenter
Location: 16.729°N, 86.212°W
Depth: 10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region: OFFSHORE HONDURAS
Distances:
- 125 km (75 miles) NNE of La Ceiba, Honduras
- 220 km (135 miles) N of TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras
- 310 km (195 miles) NNE of TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras
- 1185 km (730 miles) SSW of Miami, Florida
Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 4.3 km (2.7 miles); depth fixed by location program
Parameters: NST=290, Nph=290, Dmin=316.9 km, Rmss=1.15 sec, Gp= 36°, M-type=teleseismic moment magnitude (Mw), Version=8
Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID us2009heak
NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
A strong earthquake has occurred, but a tsunami IS NOT expected along the coasts of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico states, and Eastern Canadian provinces. NO tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect for these areas.
Based on the earthquake location, magnitude, and historic tsunami records, a damaging tsunami IS NOT expected along the Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S. Atlantic, Eastern Canadian and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Earthquakes of this size can generate destructive tsunamis along the coast near the epicenter. Authorities in the epicentral region should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action.
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