No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCentral Valley of Costa Rica shakes with magnitude 5.4 quake

Central Valley of Costa Rica shakes with magnitude 5.4 quake

So much for a relaxing Sunday night.

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake shook much of Costa Rica at 7:33 p.m., according to preliminary data from the National Seismological Network (RSN).

The tremor had an epicenter near Arancibia, Puntarenas, which is located about 45 miles northwest of San José and its surrounding Greater Metropolitan Area.

RSN indicates the quake was felt throughout the Central Valley, home to nearly three-quarters of Costa Rica’s population.

There have not been any immediate reports of substantial damage.

“According to preliminary data from the emergency committees, so far there is no report of damage after the perceived earthquake,” said the National Emergency Commission (CNE) in a post.

Map showing approximate intensity of Sunday's earthquake in Costa Rica.
Via the National Seismological Network (RSN).

The National Seismological Network has already reported at least one aftershock, which occurred at 7:38 p.m. and had a similar epicenter.

Trending Now

Lawmakers Question Chaves’ Move to Appoint President-Elect Fernández as Minister

Lawmakers from multiple parties have raised concerns over President Rodrigo Chaves' recent appointment of president-elect Laura Fernández as Minister of the Presidency. The decision,...

Costa Rica’s Dry Forest Pit Viper and Why It Shows Up in Yards

I’m leaning into being a grumpy old man here, but when I was a kid and I got in trouble my punishment was that...

Costa Rica National Surf Circuit 2026 Begins at Playa Cocles

The national surf circuit launches its 2026 season this weekend at Playa Cocles in Talamanca, drawing over 140 competitors to the Caribbean coast. From...

Nicaragua frees former military officer amid U.S. criticism over political prisoners

A military officer sentenced to 50 years in prison for “treason” in Nicaragua has been released at a time when the United States is...

La Fortuna Tops Travel + Leisure’s List as Costa Rica’s Prime Wellness Spot

For those who haven't been here before, La Fortuna sits in the northern part of the country, near Arenal Volcano. The area draws visitors...

Chile Launches Latam GPT to Build a Less Biased AI for Latin America

Move over ChatGPT -- Chile will launch Latam-GPT, an open-source artificial intelligence model designed to combat biases built by the primarily US-centric industry. Developped...
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica