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

Costa Rica’s Grynspan Wins 12 of 15 Votes in Eighth UN Secretary-General Poll

Rebeca Grynspan won 12 of 15 Security Council votes in the eighth UN secretary-general straw poll.

El Niño Leaves Gulf of Nicoya Fishermen With Catches Too Small to Pay for Fuel

Fishermen in the Gulf of Nicoya say the unusually warm water El Niño has pushed against Costa Rica’s Pacific coast has left their nets...

Guards Find Sharpened Spoons as Costa Rica’s Megaprison Tops 600 Inmates

Costa Rica's new maximum-security prison held more than 600 inmates by Tuesday, eight days after the first transfers. Guards there have already found weapons...

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.

National Geographic Names Costa Rica Central America’s Ultimate Nature Escape

National Geographic's new guide calls Costa Rica Central America's ultimate nature escape and maps six regions for travelers, as US arrivals slip.

Your 2027 Marchamo Is Lower if You Drive a Private Car

If you drive a private car, your 2027 marchamo is probably a little cheaper than last year's. The National Insurance Institute (INS) puts the...

Call Center Cuts Costa Rica Job Pledge Over Asian Competition

A Costa Rica call center cut its free zone hiring pledge from 111 to 45 jobs, blaming cheaper rivals in Asia.

Costa Rica Paid $701 Million More for Fuel This Year as Diesel Soared

Costa Rica's fuel imports cost $2,267 million through September, up 44.77%, as the average barrel rose 37% and diesel led the increase.

Kilos of Marijuana Seized Off Costa Rica’s Border With Panama

Costa Rica's Coast Guard intercepted a speedboat carrying 2,648 packages of marijuana in the South Pacific this week in an operation coordinated with the...
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