A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of El Salvador on Thursday, August 13, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The earthquake was recorded in the Pacific Ocean approximately 69 kilometres south-southwest of Chirilagua, a municipality in the department of San Miguel in eastern El Salvador.

The earthquake was also reported internationally as a magnitude 5.5 event off the Salvadoran coast.

El Salvador is located in one of Central America’s most seismically active regions. Much of the country’s offshore earthquake activity is associated with the interaction between the Cocos and Caribbean tectonic plates, where the Cocos Plate is being forced beneath the Caribbean Plate along the Middle America Trench.

That tectonic activity regularly produces earthquakes beneath the Pacific Ocean and along El Salvador’s coastline.

The latest earthquake comes at a time of heightened attention to seismic activity across Latin America following the devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia earlier this week.

There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties associated with Thursday’s earthquake in El Salvador at the time of publication.

Authorities and seismic monitoring agencies continue to monitor activity in the region.

This is a developing story and additional information will be provided as it becomes available.