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

Banks and Businesses in Costa Rica Must Accept Digital ID Starting January

Starting January 1, 2027, banks, government agencies, businesses and other institutions in Costa Rica will be required to accept the Costa Rican Digital Identity...

The Local Pharmacy and the Surprises of Costa Rica Life

Your local neighborhood pharmacy is a one-stop-for-all-your-health-needs institution. Last year, a law passed requiring a doctor’s prescription for many types of antibiotics and other...

Costa Rica Is One Vote From Co-Hosting the 2031 Women’s World Cup

Costa Rica is one step away from co-hosting the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup, the biggest tournament in women's soccer. FIFA said Wednesday that...

Teachers Strike Today as 11 Groups March Through Downtown San José

If you plan to drive, ride a bus or walk through downtown San José this morning, expect delays. Teachers' unions and public universities are...

Costa Rica Banks Pay as Little as 436 Colones per Dollar – Here’s How to Get More

With the dollar at a record low, Costa Rica banks are paying 436 to 440 colones per dollar. Here is how to compare rates and avoid costly conversions.

Monteverde Went From 25 Dry Days a Year to Nearly 120, BBC Reports

Costa Rica's best known cloud forest is in the international spotlight this week after the BBC published a lengthy feature on Monteverde, reporting that...

A Quiet Island Escape in Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya

A three-hour journey and a short boat ride from my home in Costa Rica took me somewhere that felt much farther away. Isla Jesusita...

Have a US Visa Appointment Wednesday? The Embassy Will Be Closed

The US Embassy and visa section in San José close Nov. 11 for Veterans Day and reopen Thursday.

Luisa Stefani Moves Closer to WTA Finals Semifinals After Dramatic Comeback

Brazil's Luisa Stefani and Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski moved closer to the WTA Finals doubles semifinals Wednesday after producing a dramatic comeback to defeat...
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