A second severe earthquake has struck El Salvador on February 12, just one month after the initial quake on January 13. The second earthquake was measured at 6.1 on the Richter Scale. The initial quake was 7.1.

Experts have described this second quake as an after shock. The epicenters of the quakes are approximately 70 kilometres apart. Initial reports state 66 people, have died and another 189 injured. MSF teams in El Salvador have remained active on the ground following the first quake.

The immediate MSF presence in the field, while active on the same type of emergency, means a faster response rate for the MSF teams. However the distance between the epicenters indicates relief efforts may need to be spread wider through the country, at least during the initial exploratory period.

It is common for after shocks to be a frequent occurrence following an initial quake. There have been dozens following the January 13 quake but only two reached 5.0 on the Richter Scale.