No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

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

Tico Time and Why Life in Costa Rica Doesn’t Always Run on Schedule

I don't want to hear about Tico Time. Where did that expression even originate? It has been around for at least the 35 years...

Costa Rica Explains VAT Refunds for Hotel Stays Abroad

Travelers paying for overseas accommodation through certain booking platforms with Costa Rican credit or debit cards can face an automatic 13% VAT charge, even...

Costa Rica Sharks Get Cameras Built by Stanford Students

Scientists at the University of Costa Rica have strapped small cameras to nurse sharks in a protected Guanacaste bay, and what the animals are...

Vaping Sends More Costa Rican Teens to the Doctor as New Rules Wait Until 2027

Four out of every 10 medical consultations for vaping-related disorders recorded in Costa Rica last year involved patients between the ages of 10 and...

Route 1 at Cambronero Closed for up to Two Months After Bridge Damage

If your drive west runs through Cambronero, plan on going another way for a while. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport says the...

Woman’s Body Found After River Surge Near Rincón de la Vieja

The body of a woman swept away by a sudden river surge in Guanacaste was recovered Sunday morning, ending a search that had run...

Costa Rica Ordered to Fix Safety Problems on Route 32

Costa Rica’s Comptroller General has ordered highway authorities to address safety problems on Route 32 after finding that seven roundabouts on the key Caribbean...

Costa Rica Dollar Exchange Rate Falls to Another Record Low

The U.S. dollar has fallen to its lowest level on record against Costa Rica’s colón, extending a decline that is increasing the purchasing power...

Arajet Pauses Its Costa Rica Flights Until November

The Dominican low-cost carrier has not flown to Costa Rica since 8 August and has nothing scheduled until November. Here is what it means if you were counting on the route.
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
🌴 The Weekly Pura Vida

Costa Rica, Once a Week

The week's top stories, weather & insider tips — delivered every Sunday. One email, zero clutter.

🔒 Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

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