Magnitude 5 earthquake shakes Costa Rica's capital, no damage reported

A magnitude 5 earthquake, accompanied by several aftershocks, jolted the capital region of Costa Rica early Monday morning. While the seismic activity generated significant alarm among residents, initial reports confirm that no material damage or personal injuries occurred.

The main earthquake struck at 1:37 AM local time, with its epicenter identified by the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (Ovsicori) eight kilometers northeast of San Isidro de Coronado in the San José province. The tremor originated at a depth of 11 kilometers and was felt across the capital and surrounding areas. Ovsicori attributed the event to a local terrestrial fault.

Just three minutes after the initial quake, a magnitude 4.5 aftershock was registered, also without causing any damage. Ovsicori reported that approximately 30 smaller aftershocks have occurred since, most of which were not perceptible to the public.

Costa Rica is located in a region known for frequent seismic activity, and the country typically registers dozens of tremors annually. However, the vast majority go unnoticed by the population. This year, 2026, has seen 12 earthquakes exceeding magnitude 5, including a 5.7 magnitude event on April 15 off the Pacific coast near Playa Ostional in Guanacaste province. None of these seismic events have resulted in significant damage or injuries.