HomeArchiveOne year after the Nicoya quake, magnitude-5.9 temblor jolts Guanacaste

One year after the Nicoya quake, magnitude-5.9 temblor jolts Guanacaste

Exactly one year after the earthquake that struck the northwestern Nicoya Peninsula a temblor measuring magnitude-5.9 shook the province of Guanacaste at 6:29 a.m. Thursday, the University of Costa Rica’s National Seismological Network (RSN) said.

The Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (Ovsicori) reported the quake as a magnitude-5.3.

The epicenter was located 19 kilometers southwest of Manzanillo in Santa Cruz. That is 60 km from the Nicoya earthquake epicenter.

The RSN report indicates the temblor was caused by the collision of Cocos and Caribbean plates.

At 10:30 a.m., Ovsicori registered 36 aftershocks with magnitudes of up to four degrees, however most of them have not been felt.

Neither the Red Cross or the Fire Department have received any reports of injuries or damage to structures due to the quake.

On Thursday, President Laura Chinchilla and other government officials presented a report of all the actions taken by her administration on the first anniversary of the magnitude-7.6 earthquake. It jolted most of the country starting at 8:42 a.m. and lasted some 45 seconds. A 51-year-old woman died of a heart attack following the event, although she was not included in the official quake death toll.

According to official figures, the cost of infrastructure replacement was estimated at $100 million, $20 million corresponding to repairs to the Monseñor Sanabria Hospital in the Pacific province of Puntarenas.

Trending Now

El Refugio Costa Ballena: Making a Difference for Animals and the Community

From rescuing animals in need to providing affordable spay/neuter surgeries and supporting community members’ loving pets, one local nonprofit is changing the lives of...

Gota a Gota Extortion Cases Keep Climbing in Costa Rica, OIJ Data Show

Extortion complaints tied to gota a gota loans in Costa Rica hit a record 935 in 2025, and 2026 is close behind.

Your 2027 Marchamo Is Due and the New Sticker Can Only Go On Once

The 2027 marchamo is due by Dec. 31, with a new 10-year sticker you can only stick on once.

A Proposed 15% Tax Would Reach Costa Rica Residents’ Foreign Dividends and Interest

Costa Rica residents who earn interest, dividends, rent or capital gains outside the country would pay a 15% tax on that income under a...

Pacific Low Has a 60% Chance of Turning Tropical as Costa Rica Braces for Rain

A low off Central America's Pacific coast now has a 60% chance of becoming a tropical depression, and heavy rain could reach parts of the region through the weekend. With soils already up to 90% saturated, here is what to expect and how to plan.

Djokovic Rallies in Paris to Keep ATP Finals Hopes Alive

At 39, Djokovic became the oldest match winner in Paris Masters history and kept his ATP Finals hopes alive.

Corcovado’s Sirena Station Is Back to 366 Visitors a Day. Who Decided?

Corcovado National Park has spent the past five months caught in a tug of war that has left many in the Osa Peninsula's conservation...

Costa Rica’s Pesticide Problem and the Beauty of Backyard Gardening

Isn’t it ironic that Costa Rica, our country famed throughout the world for its amazing flora and fauna, is also at or near the...

Costa Rica Unemployment Climbs to 6.5% With 20,000 More Out of Work

Costa Rica's unemployment rate rose to 6.5% in the July-to-September quarter, up from 5.7% a year earlier, according to the National Institute of Statistics...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel