Hazard profile

El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events typically result in drought in Central American countries. The particularly strong El Nino that lasted between August 1982 and April 1983 triggered a severe drought in El Salvador. fn1. Stillwell, H.D. 1992. Natural hazards and disasters in Latin Ame...readmore

The coast of El Salvador is affected by both local tsunamis and strong tsunamis generated by distant earthquakes from Alaska to South America with 11 tsunamis recorded over the last 143 years. The main cause of tsunamis to affect El Salvador is the dislocation of the ocean floor associated with m...readmore

Flooding in El Salvador tends to occur in the rainy season (June to November) and mainly results from high intensity rainfall associated with tropical cyclones and tropical storms. fn1. US Department of State. 2006. Consular Information Sheet: El Salvador. http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t...readmore

Landslides in El Salvador often occur in the pumice-rich unconsolidated material that mantles the flanks of the country's volcanoes. Typically, slope failure is triggered by intense rainfall associated with tropical cyclones (such as the thousands of landslides triggered by the 1998 Hurricane Mitch...readmore

Mass movement events are frequent in El Salvador and are typically triggered by heavy rainfall[1]. Both mudslides and landslides occur throughout the country. fn1. Rose, W.I., Bommer, J.J. & Sandovel, C. 2004. Natural hazards and risk mitigation in El Salvador: An introduction. Geographical Soci...readmore

Mudslides are frequent in El Salvador and are mainly triggered by heavy rainfall. A mudslide that occurred in 2001 on the slopes of the San Salvador volcano killed 585 people and destroyed many houses. fn1. Rose, W.I., Bommer, J.J. & Sandovel, C. 2004. Natural hazards and risk mitigation in El Sa...readmore

The coast of El Salvador is affected by both local tsunamis and strong tsunamis generated by distant earthquakes from Alaska to South America with 11 tsunamis recorded over the last 143 years. The main cause of tsunamis to affect El Salvador is the dislocation of the ocean floor associated with m...readmore

El Salvador borders the Middle American Trench, the active subduction boundary and seismic zone between the Cocos and Caribbean plates. As a result, the country experiences moderate seismic activity and is bisected by a linear belt of active explosive volcanoes[1]. While there has been little vo...readmore

El Salvador is located in the subtropical hurricane zone and is subject to both Atlantic hurricanes and Pacific cyclones. In recent years, Hurricane Mitch (1998) and Tropical Storm Stan (2005) both bought severe destruction to El Salvador. fn1. Rose, W.I., Bommer, J.J. & Sandovel, C. 2004. Natu...readmore