The quake could be felt in the capital, San José. There were no reports of injuries or damage at this posting but an temblor with a magnitude of 4.5 has the potential to cause moderate damage.
Nearly 60,000 people in over 90 buildings in downtown San José will be evacuated in a drill Thursday to test the country's preparation for an earthquake with an epicenter located near the capital.
Possible abnormal behavior that could indicate imminent earthquakes includes chickens flying atop trees, fish leaping out of water or toads moving in a group.
In the latest seismological event to happen in Costa Rica this week, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck off the country’s southern coast at 2:37 p.m. Saturday. There were no initial reports of damage.
The first quake had a magnitude of 4.8 with an epicenter some 10 kilometers from Pérez Zeledón. A magnitude-5.2 aftershock at 12:42 p.m. was followed by a magnitude-2.3 temblor at 12:50 p.m., according to initial reports from OVSICORI.
A strong temblor with a magnitude of 4.8 shook residents in several communities in the northwestern province of Guanacaste at 7:12 a.m. Four hours later, a magnitude-4.9 was registered near the border with Panama, according to the University of Costa Rica’s National Seismological Network.
