Great San Salvador Earthquake

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On October 10th, 1986 at 11:50 HRS local time, a major earthquake struck El Salvador, causing considerable damage to the capital San Salvador and surrounding areas, including neighbouring Honduras and Guatemala. It measured 7.2 on the Richter Scale and reports state approximately between at least 1,000 and 1,500 people died from the catastrophe. Over 10,000 were injured and 200,000 were left homeless after all of the numerous minor aftershocks had finished, that lasted for a week. [1]

The 1986 quake resulted from movements along the faults in El Salvador. This produced intense (up/down) shaking (this type of quake is more destructable than a quake at similar strength that "sways") destroying many structures and lives, unfortunately - the city's children hospital, collapsing the multilevel/underground marketplace which at the time of day was filled with people, flattening apartment buildings and restaurants (one next to the American Embassy, which was also badly damaged and a new site and building was established) and shanties. Surprisingly, a "barranca", a shanty, in San Salvador next to the city's Sheraton Hotel, was not damaged at all. [2]