Light magnitude 3.9 earthquake at 3 km depth16 Sep 10:56 UTC: First to report: INETER after 4 minutes.16 Sep 10:57: Now using data updates from EMSCI didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeSep 16, 2025 10:52:30 UTC - Local time at epicenterTuesday, Sep 16, 2025, at 04:52 am (GMT -6)Statusconfirmed (manually revised)Magnitude3.9Depth3 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude10.47°N / 86.32°WCosta RicaAlso near: Nicaragua 92 km (57 mi) awaySeismic antipode10.47°S / 93.68°EShaking intensityV Moderate shaking near epicenterFelt0 reportsPrimary data sourceEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)Nearest volcanoOrosí (109 km / 68 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeOvercast Clouds 27.3°C (81 F), humidity: 76%, wind: 3 m/s (5 kts) from NEEstimated seismic energy released4.5 x 1010 joules (12.4 megawatt hours, equivalent to 10.7 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 3.9 | about seismic energy12 minutes agoSep 16, 2025 10:52 GMT / Sep 16, 2025 04:52 am (GMT -6)Lat / Lng: 10.47 / -86.32: Off Coast of Costa RicaSource: EMSCOther sources: INETER: 3.9 / 3 kmDetail info | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-22172278',10.47000,-86.32000,'12 minutes ago: Mag. 3.9, Off Coast of Costa Rica',html,'quakes-5-24.png',18,18,9,9,124]); function mkRep(id,notFelt){var nFelt=notFelt||false;var src="https://www.volcanoesandearthquakes.com/app/earthquake-report.php?quakeId="+id;if(nFelt==true){src+="¬Felt=true";}window.open(src,"","status=0,toolbar=0,location=0,directories=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,scrollbars=1,height=400,width=350");} function locationHashChanged(e){-1!=e.oldURL.indexOf("#popupMap")&&closePopup()} window.onhashchange = locationHashChanged; function comment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=(t.dataset.id,document.getElementById("commentForm"));"none"==a.style.display?(t.appendChild(a),a.style.display="block"):a.style.display="none"}function sendComment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=t.parentNode.dataset.id,n=document.getElementById("commentContent"),p=n.value.trim();if(p){var o="id="+a+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId;o+="&comment="+decodeURIComponent(p),mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",o,function(e){e.responseText;alert("Thank you for submitting your comment!"),t.style.display="none",n.value=""})}}function flagReport(e){var t=e.parentNode.dataset.id;if(confirm("Report this as inappropriate?")){var a="id="+t+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&flagAsInappropriate=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",a,function(t){var a=t.responseText;alert(a),e.style.display="none"})}}function likeReport(e){var t="id="+e.parentNode.dataset.id+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&like=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",t,function(t){t.responseText;e.style.opacity=.5})}]]>[smaller] [bigger]Most recent quakes Top 20 past 24 hrs Quakes in Costa RicaNearby placesThe closest larger town where the quake might have been felt is Santa Cruz, a town with 12,000 inhabitants in Costa Rica, in 84 km (52 mi) distance east of the epicenter. People likely experienced very weak shaking there. Several smaller towns and villages are located closer to the epicenter and might have experienced stronger shaking. In the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, 252 km (157 mi) away from the epicenter, the earthquake could not be felt.The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking.DistancePlaceMax. shaking intensity(*)RegionCountry56 km (35 mi)E of epicenterTamarindo(pop: 6,380)II: Very weakSanta Cruz, Provincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica74 km (46 mi)E of epicenterSardinal(pop: 3,270)II: Very weakCarrillo, Provincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica80 km (50 mi)E of epicenterBelen(pop: 2,720)II: Very weakCarrillo, Provincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica84 km (52 mi)E of epicenterSanta Cruz(pop: 12,300)II: Very weakProvincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica98 km (61 mi)E of epicenterLiberia(pop: 45,400)II: Very weakProvincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica101 km (63 mi)NE of epicenterLa Cruz(pop: 4,320)II: Very weakProvincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica102 km (63 mi)E of epicenterNicoya(pop: 15,300)II: Very weakProvincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica109 km (68 mi)SE of epicenterHojancha(pop: 1,820)II: Very weakProvincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica117 km (72 mi)E of epicenterBagaces(pop: 4,110)II: Very weakProvincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica120 km (75 mi)NE of epicenterRivas(pop: 30,000)II: Very weakDepartamento de RivasNicaragua134 km (83 mi)E of epicenterCanas(pop: 20,300)II: Very weakCanas, Provincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica140 km (87 mi)NE of epicenterSan José(pop: 31,400)II: Very weakUpala, Provincia de AlajuelaCosta Rica146 km (91 mi)N of epicenterNandaime(pop: 20,800)II: Very weakDepartamento de GranadaNicaragua148 km (92 mi)E of epicenterTilaran(pop: 7,300)II: Very weakTilaran, Provincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica150 km (93 mi)E of epicenterJuntas(pop: 4,740)II: Very weakAbangares, Provincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica151 km (94 mi)E of epicenterUpala(pop: 4,190)II: Very weakProvincia de AlajuelaCosta Rica154 km (96 mi)N of epicenterSan Rafael del Sur(pop: 29,800)II: Very weakDepartamento de ManaguaNicaragua154 km (96 mi)N of epicenterJinotepe(pop: 29,500)II: Very weakDepartamento de CarazoNicaragua155 km (96 mi)N of epicenterDiriamba(pop: 35,000)II: Very weakDepartamento de CarazoNicaragua161 km (100 mi)N of epicenterSan Marcos(pop: 23,300)I: Not feltDepartamento de CarazoNicaragua162 km (101 mi)N of epicenterMasatepe(pop: 21,500)I: Not feltDepartamento de MasayaNicaragua167 km (104 mi)N of epicenterGranada(pop: 89,400)I: Not feltDepartamento de GranadaNicaragua169 km (105 mi)N of epicenterEl Crucero(pop: 16,500)I: Not feltDepartamento de ManaguaNicaragua169 km (105 mi)N of epicenterMasaya(pop: 130,100)I: Not feltDepartamento de MasayaNicaragua171 km (106 mi)E of epicenterPuntarenas(pop: 35,700)I: Not feltProvincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica177 km (110 mi)E of epicenterChacarita(pop: 26,400)I: Not feltPuntarenas, Provincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica179 km (111 mi)E of epicenterMiramar(pop: 6,540)I: Not feltMontes de Oro, Provincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica185 km (115 mi)N of epicenterManagua(pop: 973,100)I: Not feltDepartamento de ManaguaNicaragua188 km (117 mi)N of epicenterCiudad Sandino(pop: 50,000)I: Not feltDepartamento de ManaguaNicaragua189 km (117 mi)E of epicenterEsparza(pop: 15,600)I: Not feltProvincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica194 km (120 mi)N of epicenterTipitapa(pop: 50,000)I: Not feltDepartamento de ManaguaNicaragua197 km (122 mi)N of epicenterMateare(pop: 61,200)I: Not feltDepartamento de ManaguaNicaragua202 km (125 mi)N of epicenterNagarote(pop: 26,300)I: Not feltDepartamento de LeonNicaragua207 km (129 mi)E of epicenterSan Ramon(pop: 10,800)I: Not feltSan Ramon, Provincia de AlajuelaCosta Rica207 km (129 mi)E of epicenterDesamparados(pop: 14,400)I: Not feltSan Mateo, Provincia de AlajuelaCosta Rica207 km (129 mi)E of epicenterQuesada(pop: 27,300)I: Not feltSan Carlos, Provincia de AlajuelaCosta Rica210 km (130 mi)NE of epicenterJuigalpa(pop: 50,000)I: Not feltDepartamento de ChontalesNicaragua212 km (131 mi)N of epicenterLa Paz Centro(pop: 23,500)I: Not feltDepartamento de LeonNicaragua244 km (152 mi)NE of epicenterNueva Guinea(pop: 52,900)I: Not feltNI.18.9612993, Costa Caribe SurNicaragua252 km (157 mi)E of epicenterSan Jose(pop: 335,000)I: Not feltSan Jose, Provincia de San JoseCosta RicaNotes:(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.User-reports for this quakeThere are no user reports for this quake yet.If you felt it, be the first to report it!Compare Quake DataData for the same earthquake as reported by different agenciesThe more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.MagDepthTime GMT2025-09-16EpicenterAgency3.93 km1.9 mi10:52:30OFF COAST OF COSTA RICAEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)3.93 km1.9 mi10:52:3040 Km al noroeste de Rosario, Costa Rica0.8 km (0.5 mi) epicenter difference with EMSCINETEREarthquake statisticsAverage number of earthquakesBased on data from the past 25 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 376 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 7 or higher: 0.02 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 62.5 years)Mag. 6 or higher: 0.17 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 6 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 2.1 quakes per yearMag. 4 or higher: 67 quakes per year (or 5.6 quakes per month)Mag. 3 or higher: 290 quakes per year (or 24.2 quakes per month)Mag. 2 or higher: 371 quakes per year (or 30.9 quakes per month)Mag. 1 or higher: 374 quakes per year (or 31.2 quakes per month)The area where this quake occurred has a very high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 2 quakes above magnitude 7 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 60 to 65 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeThe earthquake occurred 2 weeks after a magnitude 4.2 earthquake had hit on Saturday, Aug 30, 2025, at 11:51 am (GMT -6 local time) in 83 km (51 mi) distance to the southeast:Mag. 4.2 earthquake North Pacific Ocean - 61 km southwest of Nicoya, Costa Rica - Aug 30, 2025 - The largest quake near the epicenter of this quake during the 10 years before was an event of magnitude 6.2. It had occurred 48 weeks earlier, on Saturday, Oct 12, 2024, at 11:43 am (GMT -6 local time) in North Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica:Mag. 6.2 earthquake North Pacific Ocean - Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica - Oct 12, 2024 - The strongest-ever (since 1900) recorded quake in this area measured magnitude 7.7. It had occurred 33 years ago earlier, on Tuesday, Sep 1, 1992, at 06:16 pm (GMT -6 local time) in North Pacific Ocean, Nicaragua:Mag. 7.7 earthquake North Pacific Ocean - Departamento de Leon, Nicaragua - Sep 1, 1992 - Below is a list and map of larger or recent quakes that had occurred near the epicenter before this earthquake (within up to 100 km/61 mi distance, up to 300 km/183 mi for very large quakes above mag. 7). Filter and sort the list by magnitude or time.Max results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageDate and TimeMagDepthDistanceLocationDetailsMapSep 15, 06:38 am (GMT -6)3.25 km81 km (50 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 81 km west of Rivas, Departamento de Rivas, Nicaragua I FELT ITInfoSep 14, 11:14 pm (GMT -6)3.613 km59 km (37 mi) to the SNorth Pacific Ocean, 85 km west of Nicoya, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica I FELT ITInfoSep 14, 02:51 pm (GMT -6)3.016 km22 km (14 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 82 km west of Liberia, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica I FELT ITInfoSep 13, 01:47 am (GMT -6)3.127 km23 km (14 mi) to the NWNorth Pacific Ocean, 116 km west of Liberia, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica I FELT ITInfoSep 11, 08:52 pm (GMT -6)3.110 km89 km (56 mi) to the W Off Coast of Costa Rica I FELT ITInfoAug 30, 11:51 am (GMT -6)4.213 km83 km (51 mi) to the SENorth Pacific Ocean, 61 km southwest of Nicoya, Costa Rica 6 reportsInfoJul 28, 02:55 pm (GMT -6)4.950 km92 km (57 mi) to the NWNorth Pacific Ocean, 124 km southwest of Managua, Nicaragua 2 reportsInfoJul 13, 02:51 am (GMT -6)4.610 km51 km (31 mi) to the NW 105 km WNW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica 1 reportInfoJul 8, 01:03 am (GMT -6)4.313 km22 km (14 mi) to the SW Off Coast of Costa Rica 1 reportInfoJul 3, 02:28 am (Managua)3.990 km99 km (61 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 22 km southwest of Rivas, Departamento de Rivas, NicaraguaInfoOct 12, 2024 11:43 am (GMT -6)6.223 km15 km (9.4 mi) to the SNorth Pacific Ocean, 106 km west of Liberia, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica 110 reportsInfoNov 9, 2021 12:25 am (GMT -6)6.233 km97 km (60 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 90 km south of Managua, Departamento de Managua, Nicaragua 344 reportsInfoNov 9, 2021 12:24 am (GMT -6)5.721 km79 km (49 mi) to the N72 km S of Masachapa, NicaraguaInfoJan 16, 2018 09:03 am (GMT -6)5.822 km51 km (32 mi) to the N63 km SW of San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua 30 reportsInfoSep 5, 2013 06:29 am (GMT -6)5.919 km28 km (17 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 68 km northwest of Santa Cruz, Costa Rica 9 reportsInfoSep 5, 2012 08:42 am (Costa Rica)7.635 km118 km (73 mi) to the E 11 km ENE of Hojancha, Costa Rica 6 reportsInfoApr 14, 2011 02:50 pm (GMT -6)5.722 km85 km (53 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 86 km south of Masaya, Departamento de Masaya, NicaraguaInfoFeb 24, 2010 09:15 pm (GMT -6)5.725 km81 km (51 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 44 km southwest of Rivas, Departamento de Rivas, NicaraguaInfoJul 1, 2005 08:16 pm (Managua)6.627 km88 km (54 mi) to the N near the coast of NicaraguaInfoMar 14, 2005 06:15 pm (Managua)5.830 km90 km (56 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 34 km southwest of Rivas, Departamento de Rivas, NicaraguaInfoOct 9, 2004 03:26 pm (GMT -6)7.035 km112 km (70 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 91 km southwest of Managua, NicaraguaInfoJun 29, 2004 01:01 am (GMT -6)6.39 km84 km (52 mi) to the W off the coast of Costa RicaInfoApr 28, 2004 06:57 pm (Costa Rica)6.210 km51 km (32 mi) to the NE 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa RicaInfoNov 12, 2001 05:43 pm (GMT -6)5.933 km93 km (58 mi) to the NWNorth Pacific Ocean, 148 km southwest of Managua, NicaraguaInfoOct 9, 1998 05:54 am (GMT -6)6.069 km96 km (59 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 93 km south of Managua, Departamento de Managua, NicaraguaInfoNov 17, 1996 01:17 pm (GMT -6)6.033 km74 km (46 mi) to the NE 27 km SW of San Juan Del Sur, NicaraguaInfoMay 1, 1994 03:26 pm (Costa Rica)5.868 km54 km (33 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 62 km west of Liberia, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa RicaInfoSep 13, 1993 04:58 pm (GMT -6)5.833 km86 km (53 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 88 km west of Isla de Ometepe Island, NicaraguaInfoSep 10, 1992 09:03 am (GMT -6)5.927 km35 km (22 mi) to the SW off the coast of Costa RicaInfoSep 1, 1992 06:16 pm (GMT -6)7.745 km180 km (112 mi) to the NWNorth Pacific Ocean, 92 km southwest of Leon, Departamento de Leon, NicaraguaInfoApr 5, 1992 08:13 am (GMT -6)5.832 km89 km (55 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 97 km south of Managua, Departamento de Managua, NicaraguaInfoMar 25, 1990 07:22 am (Costa Rica)7.322 km176 km (110 mi) to the ENorth Pacific Ocean, 7.2 km southeast of Puntarenas, Costa RicaInfoOct 4, 1987 02:15 am (Costa Rica)6.248 km58 km (36 mi) to the NE Costa RicaInfoJun 30, 1986 04:52 pm (Managua)5.964 km93 km (58 mi) to the N 17 km W of San Juan Del Sur, NicaraguaInfoAug 22, 1978 06:38 pm (Costa Rica)7.056 km124 km (77 mi) to the E 19 km N of Nandayure, Costa RicaInfoOct 3, 1967 12:16 pm (Costa Rica)6.230 km60 km (37 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 64 km northwest of Liberia, Costa RicaInfoOct 24, 1956 08:42 am (Managua)7.135 km137 km (85 mi) to the N near the coast of NicaraguaInfoJan 23, 1956 06:00 pm (Managua)7.30 km197 km (122 mi) to the NDepartamento de Leon, 49 km west of Managua, Departamento de Managua, NicaraguaInfoMar 2, 1952 12:52 pm (Managua)6.047 km93 km (58 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 78 km west of Isla de Ometepe Island, NicaraguaInfoOct 5, 1950 04:09 pm (Universal Time)7.598 km139 km (87 mi) to the E 8 km northeast of Canas, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa RicaInfoNov 13, 1949 04:42 am (Universal Time)6.025 km63 km (39 mi) to the E 12 km WNW of Sardinal, Costa RicaInfoDec 21, 1939 08:54 pm (Universal Time)7.525 km216 km (134 mi) to the E 4 km WNW of Atenas, Costa RicaInfoFeb 9, 1939 03:30 pm (Universal Time)6.115 km70 km (44 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 65 km southwest of Rivas, Departamento de Rivas, NicaraguaInfoMar 7, 1931 12:41 am (Universal Time)6.215 km81 km (51 mi) to the NENorth Pacific Ocean, 42 km south of Rivas, Departamento de Rivas, NicaraguaInfoMar 4, 1924 11:43 am (Universal Time)6.515 km65 km (41 mi) to the SNorth Pacific Ocean, 82 km west of Nicoya, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa RicaInfoMar 28, 1921 07:49 am (Universal Time)7.265 km257 km (160 mi) to the NW HondurasInfoFeb 27, 1916 08:21 pm (Universal Time)7.215 km159 km (99 mi) to the SW 204 km WSW of Sámara, Costa RicaInfoOct 23, 1913 03:00 pm (Universal Time)6.115 km56 km (35 mi) to the SWNorth Pacific Ocean, 279 km west of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa RicaInfoDec 30, 1907 05:26 am (Universal Time)7.235 km30 km (18 mi) to the NWNorth Pacific Ocean, 115 km west of Liberia, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa RicaInfoJan 20, 1905 06:00 pm (Universal Time)6.720 km89 km (55 mi) to the SE 18 km WSW of Nicoya, Costa RicaInfoOct 7, 1901 08:16 pm (GMT -6)7.00 km62 km (39 mi) to the N NicaraguaInfoJun 21, 1900 02:52 pm (Costa Rica)7.50 km104 km (65 mi) to the SE 18 km south of Nicoya, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa RicaInfoMap of earlier quakes in the area of this quakeMax results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageOldest quakes are shown in yellow, most recent in red.[quakes -][quakes +][smaller][bigger]