Moderate magnitude 4.5 earthquake at 6 km depth15 Nov 12:20 UTC: First to report: VolcanoDiscovery after 44 seconds.15 Nov 12:28: Now using data updates from INETERI didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeNov 15, 2025 12:20:15 UTC - Local time at epicenterSaturday, Nov 15, 2025, at 06:20 am (America/Costa Rica GMT -6)Statuspreliminary (automatic detection)Magnitude4.5Depth6 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude9.587°N / 84.8°WProvincia de Puntarenas, Costa RicaSeismic antipode9.587°S / 95.2°EShaking intensityV Moderate shaking near epicenterFelt5 reportsPrimary data sourceINETERNearest volcanoArenal (92 km / 57 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeOvercast Clouds 25.4°C (78 F), humidity: 90%, wind: 1 m/s (1 kts) from NEEstimated seismic energy released3.5 x 1011 joules (98.6 megawatt hours, equivalent to 84.8 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 4.5 | about seismic energy16 minutes ago reported feltNov 15, 2025 12:20 GMT / Nov 15, 2025 06:20 am (Costa Rica time)Lat / Lng: 9.587 / -84.8: 17 km Al Suroeste De Herradura, Costa RicaSource: INETERDetail info | Read user reports | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-22396610',9.58700,-84.80000,'16 minutes ago: Mag. 4.5, 17 km Al Suroeste De Herradura, Costa Rica',html,'quakes-6-24.png',25,25,12,12,125]); 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 San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica with 340,000 inhabitants, in 88 km (54 mi) distance northeast of the epicenter. People likely experienced weak shaking there. Many smaller towns and villages are located closer to the epicenter and might have experienced stronger shaking.The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking.DistancePlaceMax. shaking intensity(*)RegionCountry19 km (12 mi)E of epicenterJaco(pop: 4,090)IV: LightGarabito, Provincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica30 km (19 mi)NW of epicenterPaquera(pop: 1,510)IV: LightPuntarenas, Provincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica44 km (27 mi)N of epicenterPuntarenas(pop: 35,700)III: WeakProvincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica44 km (27 mi)N of epicenterChacarita(pop: 26,400)III: WeakPuntarenas, Provincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica47 km (29 mi)NE of epicenterOrotina(pop: 6,140)III: WeakProvincia de AlajuelaCosta Rica47 km (29 mi)N of epicenterEsparza(pop: 15,600)III: WeakProvincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica51 km (32 mi)NE of epicenterDesamparados(pop: 14,400)III: WeakSan Mateo, Provincia de AlajuelaCosta Rica53 km (33 mi)E of epicenterParrita(pop: 3,730)III: WeakProvincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica57 km (35 mi)N of epicenterMiramar(pop: 6,540)III: WeakMontes de Oro, Provincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica62 km (39 mi)NE of epicenterSan Rafael Abajo(pop: 27,400)III: WeakPuriscal, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica63 km (39 mi)NE of epicenterAtenas(pop: 7,010)III: WeakProvincia de AlajuelaCosta Rica65 km (40 mi)E of epicenterTejar(pop: 22,400)III: WeakAcosta, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica66 km (41 mi)NW of epicenterNandayure(pop: 1,650)III: WeakProvincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica66 km (41 mi)NE of epicenterSan Ramon(pop: 10,800)III: WeakSan Ramon, Provincia de AlajuelaCosta Rica71 km (44 mi)NE of epicenterColon(pop: 9,690)III: WeakMora, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica72 km (45 mi)E of epicenterQuepos(pop: 7,810)III: WeakProvincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica73 km (46 mi)NE of epicenterNaranjo(pop: 11,900)III: WeakProvincia de AlajuelaCosta Rica79 km (49 mi)N of epicenterJuntas(pop: 4,740)III: WeakAbangares, Provincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica80 km (50 mi)NE of epicenterAlajuela(pop: 47,500)III: WeakProvincia de AlajuelaCosta Rica80 km (50 mi)NE of epicenterSan Antonio(pop: 10,900)III: WeakBelen, Provincia de HerediaCosta Rica81 km (50 mi)NE of epicenterEscazu(pop: 12,100)III: WeakEscazu, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica82 km (51 mi)NE of epicenterSan Rafael(pop: 25,400)III: WeakEscazu, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica83 km (52 mi)E of epicenterAserri(pop: 25,900)III: WeakAserri, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica84 km (52 mi)NE of epicenterSan Felipe(pop: 25,000)III: WeakAlajuelita, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica84 km (52 mi)NE of epicenterAlajuelita(pop: 13,800)III: WeakProvincia de San JoseCosta Rica85 km (53 mi)NE of epicenterSan Juan de Dios(pop: 15,500)III: WeakDesamparados, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica86 km (53 mi)NW of epicenterHojancha(pop: 1,820)III: WeakProvincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica86 km (53 mi)NE of epicenterSan Rafael Arriba(pop: 15,100)III: WeakDesamparados, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica86 km (54 mi)W of epicenterSamara(pop: 1,070)III: WeakNicoya, Provincia de GuanacasteCosta Rica86 km (54 mi)NE of epicenterSan Francisco(pop: 55,900)III: WeakHeredia, Provincia de HerediaCosta Rica87 km (54 mi)NE of epicenterMercedes(pop: 26,000)III: WeakHeredia, Provincia de HerediaCosta Rica88 km (54 mi)NE of epicenterSan Jose(pop: 335,000)III: WeakSan Jose, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica88 km (55 mi)NE of epicenterHeredia(pop: 21,900)III: WeakProvincia de HerediaCosta Rica88 km (55 mi)NE of epicenterColima(pop: 15,900)III: WeakTibas, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica89 km (56 mi)NE of epicenterSan Juan(pop: 26,000)III: WeakTibas, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica89 km (56 mi)NE of epicenterSan Josecito(pop: 12,200)III: WeakSan Rafael, Provincia de HerediaCosta Rica89 km (56 mi)NE of epicenterSan Pablo(pop: 21,700)III: WeakProvincia de HerediaCosta Rica90 km (56 mi)NE of epicenterRio Segundo(pop: 9,850)III: WeakSarchi, Provincia de AlajuelaCosta Rica95 km (59 mi)NW of epicenterNicoya(pop: 15,300)III: WeakProvincia de GuanacasteCosta RicaNotes:(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.User-reports for this quake (5)The first report about ground shaking reached us after only 44 seconds, before other agencies reported it. So far, we have received 5 reports for this quake from Costa Rica. The quake was reported to have been felt in up to approx. 50–80 km (31–50 mi) distance, with isolated cases to have felt the quake even 80 km (50 mi) away.Most reports came from Paquera (1 report), a town with 1,500 inhabitants in Provincia de Puntarenas in 30 km (19 mi) distance northwest of the epicenter, Costa Rica, Jaco (1 report), a town with 4,100 inhabitants in 18.9 km (12 mi) distance east of the epicenter, and Alajuela (1 report) (80 km or 50 mi to the northeast). Further below is a list of places where most people reported this quake.This section is being updated as new data comes in.User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale.Contribute:Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it.Flag as inappropriate.Mark as helpful or interesting.Send your own user report!TranslateLos Suenos (17.3 km ENE of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 sPortalón (80.2 km NE of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very shortJacó (19.6 km E of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 scobano (26.2 km WNW of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : i was sitting by the pool woth my coffee a d things started shaking. (reported through our app) 17.8 km ENE of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app)List of cities/places with most reportsPlaceDistance from epicenterAverage reported Shaking IntensityNr. of reportsPaquera, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica(Pop.: 1,510)30 km (19 mi)NW of epicenterIV: Light shaking1Jaco, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica(Pop.: 4,085)18.9 km (12 mi)E of epicenterIV: Light shaking1Alajuela, Provincia de Alajuela, Costa Rica(Pop.: 47,494)80 km (50 mi)NE of epicenterII: Very weak shaking1Note: Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (5 in total) could be used for statistics.What is Intensity and the Mercalli Intensity Scale?The amount of shaking that occurs on the surface due to an earthquake is called the intensity. It is commonly measured on the so-called Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) ranging from 1 (not felt) to 10 (extreme shaking), and given in Roman numerals as I,II,...IX, X, and often displayed with color codes ranging from light blue to dark red.Earthquake intensity depends mainly on the magnitude and depth of the quake as well as the distance from the epicenter: The further away, the less shaking intensity occurs.Read more about the MMI scale!Number of reports by intensityShaking intensityNumber of reportsMin-Max distance from epicenter (*)Average distance (*)II: Very weak shaking217.3–80 km (10.7–50 mi)49 km (30 mi)III: Weak shaking117.8–17.8 km (11.1–11.1 mi)17.8 km (11 mi)IV: Light shaking219.5–26 km (12.1–16.2 mi)23 km (14 mi)Notes(*) Reports are filtered to exclude those that are likely highly inaccurate or esaggerated.Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (5 in total) could be used for geographic statistics.I didn't feel itI felt this quakeIf you were near the epicenter and felt it, please share your experience and submit a short "I felt it" report! Other users would love to hear about it!If you did NOT feel the quake although you were in the area, please report it as well! Your contribution is valuable to earthquake science and seismic hazard analysis.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 GMT2025-11-15EpicenterAgency4.56 km3.7 mi12:20:1517 Km al suroeste de Herradura, Costa RicaINETERAftershocks for this quakeNo aftershocks have been recorded so far. When aftershocks are detected, we will update this section.What are aftershocks?Larger earthquakes (above magnitude 5 or so) such as this one are usually followed by smaller ones known as aftershocks that occur in the same area during the days, weeks, months or even years after the main shock.[More info]What about this quake?Based on its magnitude, the fault that was active during the quake likely ruptured beneath a surface area of approximately 3 km2 (1 square miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 3 km (2 mi).[More info]Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)Nov 15, 2025 06:20 am (Costa Rica)16 minutes ago - felt4.56 km0 km - This quakeNorth Pacific Ocean, 44 km S of Puntarenas, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa RicaMain Shock (this quake)MoreMap of aftershocksEarthquake statisticsAverage number of earthquakesBased on data from the past 25 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 1,000 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 6 or higher: 0.28 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 3.6 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 1.63 quakes per yearMag. 4 or higher: 29.7 quakes per yearMag. 3 or higher: 357 quakes per year (or 29.7 quakes per month)Mag. 2 or higher: 878 quakes per year (or 73 quakes per month)Mag. 1 or higher: 1,000 quakes per year (or 2.8 quakes per day)The area where this quake occurred has a very high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 8 quakes above magnitude 6 since 2000, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 1 to 5 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeThe earthquake occurred 3 weeks after a magnitude 5.9 earthquake had hit on Tuesday, Oct 21, 2025, at 09:57 pm local time (America/Costa Rica GMT -6) in 72 km (45 mi) distance to the east:Mag. 5.9 earthquake North Pacific Ocean - Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica - Oct 21, 2025 - The largest quake near the epicenter of this quake during the 10 years before was an event of magnitude 6.5. It had occurred 8 years earlier, on Sunday, Nov 12, 2017, at 08:28 pm local time (America/Costa Rica GMT -6) in Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica:Mag. 6.5 earthquake 30 km southwest of San Rafael Abajo - Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica - Nov 12, 2017 - The strongest-ever (since 1900) recorded quake in this area measured magnitude 7.6. It had occurred 13 years ago earlier, on Wednesday, Sep 5, 2012, at 08:42 am local time (America/Costa Rica GMT -6) in Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica:Mag. 7.6 earthquake 17 km southeast of Nicoya - Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica - Sep 5, 2012 - 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 TimeMagDepthDistanceLocationDetailsMapOct 21, 10:02 pm (Costa Rica)4.221 km70 km (44 mi) to the SENorth Pacific Ocean, 72 km south of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica 2 reportsInfoOct 21, 09:59 pm (Costa Rica)4.023 km72 km (45 mi) to the SENorth Pacific Ocean, 75 km south of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica 12 reportsInfoOct 21, 09:57 pm (Costa Rica)5.931 km72 km (45 mi) to the ENorth Pacific Ocean, 64 km south of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica 835 reportsInfoSep 10, 11:48 pm (Costa Rica)4.121 km29 km (18 mi) to the SENorth Pacific Ocean, 68 km south of Puntarenas, Costa RicaInfoAug 22, 12:45 pm (Costa Rica)4.45 km91 km (56 mi) to the NE 3.9 km northeast of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica 4 reportsInfoAug 1, 01:33 pm (Costa Rica)4.8116 km95 km (59 mi) to the NEProvincia de Alajuela, 58 km northwest of San Jose, Costa Rica 29 reportsInfoJul 6, 01:59 pm (Costa Rica)4.744 km59 km (36 mi) to the EProvincia de Puntarenas, 44 km southwest of San Jose, Costa Rica 91 reportsInfoJun 24, 2024 04:48 pm (Costa Rica)4.69 km81 km (50 mi) to the NE 7.8 km southwest of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica 168 reportsInfoMar 31, 2024 12:34 am (Costa Rica)4.559 km77 km (48 mi) to the E 28 km south of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa RicaInfoMar 20, 2023 07:44 pm (Costa Rica)5.535 km79 km (49 mi) to the E Costa Rica 303 reportsInfoOct 19, 2021 12:32 pm (Costa Rica)5.222 km28 km (18 mi) to the SE Costa Rica: 23 Km Al Sur De Jaco, Garabito. 1 reportInfoJan 21, 2020 03:33 am (GMT -6)5.319 km98 km (61 mi) to the SENorth Pacific Ocean, 46 km southwest of San Isidro, Costa Rica 76 reportsInfoSep 18, 2019 05:23 am (Costa Rica)5.234 km82 km (51 mi) to the SE 21 km al Sur de Quepos. (Costa Rica) 77 reportsInfoMar 23, 2018 01:37 am (Costa Rica)5.336 km67 km (41 mi) to the E 15 km north of Quepos, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica 62 reportsInfoNov 12, 2017 08:32 pm (Costa Rica)5.224 km28 km (17 mi) to the SENorth Pacific Ocean, 29 km west of Parrita, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica 6 reportsInfoNov 12, 2017 08:28 pm (Costa Rica)6.525 km37 km (23 mi) to the E Costa Rica 151 reportsInfoSep 1, 2017 01:42 am (Costa Rica)5.320 km100 km (62 mi) to the NW 7.8 km west of Nicoya, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica 38 reportsInfoJun 23, 2013 02:00 pm (Costa Rica)5.432 km97 km (60 mi) to the NW 3.4 km west of Nicoya, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica 5 reportsInfoOct 23, 2012 06:45 pm (Costa Rica)6.517 km78 km (48 mi) to the NW Costa Rica 9 reportsInfoOct 10, 2012 06:19 am (Costa Rica)5.326 km94 km (58 mi) to the NW 6.2 km southwest of Nicoya, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica 2 reportsInfoSep 8, 2012 02:29 pm (Costa Rica)5.735 km79 km (49 mi) to the NW 16 km southeast of Nicoya, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica 1 reportInfoSep 5, 2012 08:42 am (Costa Rica)7.635 km79 km (49 mi) to the NW 17 km southeast of Nicoya, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica 6 reportsInfoFeb 13, 2012 04:55 am (Costa Rica)5.916 km87 km (54 mi) to the SENorth Pacific Ocean, 28 km south of Quepos, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa RicaInfoNov 2, 2011 01:01 pm (Costa Rica)5.435 km18 km (11 mi) to the NNorth Pacific Ocean, 28 km south of Puntarenas, Costa RicaInfoMay 13, 2011 04:47 pm (Costa Rica)5.973 km67 km (42 mi) to the NE 7 km ESE of Atenas, Costa RicaInfoOct 8, 2010 07:54 pm (Costa Rica)5.891 km89 km (55 mi) to the NEProvincia de Alajuela, 39 km northwest of San Jose, Costa RicaInfoMay 31, 2010 09:26 pm (Costa Rica)6.018 km71 km (44 mi) to the SENorth Pacific Ocean, 68 km south of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa RicaInfoMay 20, 2010 04:16 pm (Costa Rica)5.921 km66 km (41 mi) to the SE Costa RicaInfoJan 8, 2009 01:21 pm (Costa Rica)6.114 km92 km (57 mi) to the NE 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa RicaInfoDec 28, 2005 09:27 am (Costa Rica)5.373 km59 km (37 mi) to the NE Costa RicaInfoJan 24, 2005 11:45 am (GMT -6)5.39 km23 km (14 mi) to the S 28 km SSW of Jacó, Costa RicaInfoNov 20, 2004 02:07 am (Costa Rica)6.416 km69 km (43 mi) to the EProvincia de Puntarenas, 38 km south of San Jose, Costa RicaInfoOct 9, 2004 03:26 pm (GMT -6)7.035 km289 km (179 mi) to the NWNorth Pacific Ocean, 91 km southwest of Managua, NicaraguaInfoJan 31, 2003 02:12 pm (Costa Rica)5.327 km94 km (58 mi) to the NW 45 km south of Liberia, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa RicaInfoSep 29, 2002 07:25 am (GMT -6)5.224 km94 km (58 mi) to the SENorth Pacific Ocean, 97 km south of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa RicaInfoDec 20, 2000 09:17 am (GMT -6)5.533 km74 km (46 mi) to the W off the coast of Costa RicaInfoJul 24, 2000 07:38 am (Costa Rica)5.233 km49 km (30 mi) to the WNorth Pacific Ocean, 14 km west of Isla Cabo Blanco Island, Costa RicaInfoJul 20, 2000 11:46 pm (GMT -6)5.533 km53 km (33 mi) to the SWNorth Pacific Ocean, 29 km south of Isla Cabo Blanco Island, Costa RicaInfoJul 20, 2000 07:53 pm (GMT -6)6.433 km61 km (38 mi) to the WNorth Pacific Ocean, 28 km southwest of Isla Cabo Blanco Island, 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]