A magnitude 5.3 earthquake shook Costa Rica late Monday night, rattling homes and buildings across the Central Valley and parts of the Pacific region. No major damage or injuries had been reported by early Tuesday morning.
The tremor occurred at 9:49 p.m. last night, according to the Red Sismológica Nacional (OVISCORI), which placed the epicenter 2 kilometers west of San Ignacio de Acosta, in San José province. The RSN reported the quake at a depth of 64 kilometers and said it was felt in the Central Valley and Central Pacific.
The event was one of the stronger earthquakes felt near the Greater Metropolitan Area in recent months. Residents in San José, Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago reported brief but noticeable shaking, while local emergency officials began checking for possible damage in communities near the epicenter.
Costa Rica’s seismic agencies reported slightly different readings, a common occurrence in the first hours after an earthquake as data is reviewed. The RSN listed the event as magnitude 5.3 Mw, while OVSICORI placed it at magnitude 5.1 with an epicenter near Acosta and a depth of 51 kilometers, according to local reports.
The National Emergency Commission said shortly after the quake that no damage had been reported, but that it would continue monitoring the country. By Tuesday morning, officials still had not reported injuries or major infrastructure damage linked to the main event.
OVSICORI later confirmed at least 10 aftershocks following the main quake. Those aftershocks were all below magnitude 2, according to local reporting. The RSN said the quake was caused by subduction of the Cocos Plate, specifically deformation of the plate at intermediate depth. Costa Rica sits in a highly active seismic zone where the Cocos Plate dives beneath the Caribbean Plate, a process that produces frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity across the country.
Monday night’s earthquake followed another significant tremor earlier this month. On April 15, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake was recorded off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, southwest of Tamarindo.
For many of us here, the Acosta quake was a reminder of how routine seismic activity is in Costa Rica, even when most events cause little or no damage. Authorities urged the public to remain alert for possible aftershocks, follow official information from OVISCORI, and review basic household emergency plans.
