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Recent earthquakes in Costa Rica
Was there an earthquake in Costa Rica today? Check reported USGS epicentres, times, magnitudes and depths, or choose a longer period.
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Latest earthquakes
UpdatedUpdates every minute while this page is visible
No known events in this window
This describes the available catalogue, not an all-clear. Try a longer period or check the latest known event below.
The last 30 days
- Latest recorded earthquake
- No records in 30 days
- Strongest in 30 days
- No records in 30 days
- Earthquakes in the catalogue
- 0USGS
- Magnitude 4.5 or larger
- 0M ≥ 4.5
Data from USGS, updated automatically. This is not a warning; official alerts come from national authorities. Times are shown in Costa Rica time (UTC−6).
Where earthquakes happen in Costa Rica
The Pacific: Cocos subduction
Off Guanacaste, Puntarenas and the south, the Cocos Plate sinks beneath the Caribbean Plate. The 2012 Nicoya earthquake (M7.6) struck a seismic gap that scientists had been monitoring with GPS, though its date was not predicted.
The Caribbean: the Limón earthquake
In 1991 a magnitude 7.6 earthquake near Limón raised the Caribbean coastline and damaged bridges and roads.
The Central Valley: local faults
Shallow faults near cities can be very destructive at moderate magnitudes: the 1910 Cartago earthquake destroyed the city, and the 2009 Cinchona earthquake triggered large landslides.
Major earthquakes
The largest earthquakes recorded in Costa Rica since 1900, according to the USGS:
- 7.6Mw
- 7.6Mww
- 7.6Mw
- 7.5Mw
- 7.5Mw
- 7.3Mw
Travelling in Costa Rica
Beach towns in Guanacaste and on the Nicoya Peninsula face the subduction zone: strong or long shaking means move inland or uphill. In the mountains, watch for landslides after shaking, especially in the rainy season.
Reports come from OVSICORI and the National Seismological Network (RSN); the CNE coordinates emergencies. Costa Rica uses UTC−6 all year.
Frequently asked questions
When was the last earthquake in Costa Rica?
The first panel shows the latest earthquake in the catalogue in Costa Rica time.
Why do OVSICORI and the RSN report different magnitudes?
They are separate networks with their own stations and methods, and early figures are revised.
Was the 2012 Nicoya earthquake predicted?
No. Scientists knew the area was a seismic gap and monitored it, but no date was predicted.
Latest known event
Latest known event · America/Costa_Rica
Sources and coverage
Source: USGS · GeoNames · CC BY 4.0 · Natural Earth
The location is the reported epicentre. Offshore context is separate from a position inside a country. Small-event coverage varies by region.
Historical context
The historical catalogue includes USGS M6+ from 1900, M4.5+ from 1970 and delivered events since the project began. It is not a complete record of all small earthquakes.
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