Recent earthquakes in Costa Rica
Costa Rica sits above the subduction zone where the Cocos Plate dives beneath the Caribbean Plate along the Middle America Trench, driving frequent earthquakes and a line of active volcanoes. The Nicoya Peninsula lies directly over a locked section of this megathrust. The 2012 Nicoya earthquake (M7.6) released strain that scientists had long anticipated there. In the past 24 hours, Costa Rica has recorded no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.7 | Sep 12, 01:59 UTC | 10 km | 2 km NE of Manaca Norte, Panama |
| M5.0 | Sep 10, 08:26 UTC | 10 km | 45 km SSE of Quepos, Costa Rica |
Notable recent activity
A moderate M5.0 earthquake struck 45 km SSE of Quepos, Costa Rica at 08:26 UTC on Sep 10 at a depth of 10 km.
An M4.7 earthquake struck 2 km NE of Manaca Norte, Panama at 01:59 UTC on Sep 12 at a depth of 10 km.
Frequently asked questions
Does Costa Rica get many earthquakes?
Yes. Costa Rica experiences frequent earthquakes because the Cocos Plate subducts beneath it off the Pacific coast. Most are small, but magnitude 6 and 7 events occur periodically, particularly along the Nicoya Peninsula.
Why does Costa Rica have earthquakes and volcanoes?
The subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate both generates earthquakes along the offshore megathrust and feeds magma to the volcanoes of the Central American arc that runs through the country.
What was the biggest earthquake in Costa Rica?
The September 5, 2012 Nicoya earthquake, magnitude 7.6, was among the largest recent events and had been anticipated as the Nicoya seismic gap. The 1991 Limón earthquake (M7.6) on the Caribbean coast was another major event.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.