Moderate magnitude 4.2 earthquake at 20 km depth29 Sep 13:52 UTC: First to report: VolcanoDiscovery after 33 seconds.29 Sep 14:00: Now using data updates from INETER29 Sep 14:08: Now using data updates from EMSC29 Sep 14:08: Hypocenter depth recalculated from 30.00 to 20.00 km (from 18.6 to 12.4 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 4.3 km (2.7 mi) towards SW.Update Tue, 29 Sep 2026, 13:54Seismic-like event, possible earthquake, reported few minutes ago near San Jose, San José, Costa RicaUnconfirmed quake or seismic-like event reported: 7.1 km west of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica, 1 minute agoWe are receiving unverified early reports of ground shaking possibly caused by seismic activity in or near San Jose, San José, Costa Rica on 29 Sep 2026 (GMT) at approximately 13:52 GMT.There are no details yet on the magnitude or depth of this possible quake. If confirmed, we can expect more accurate data to emerge in the next few minutes. The location, magnitude and time mentioned are indicative, based on our best-fit seismic model. They are temporary until our AllQuakes monitoring service receives more exact scientific data from a national or international seismological agency. Check back here shortly and stay safe.If you were or still are in this area during the quake help others with your feedback and report it here.Download the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app and get one of the fastest seismic alerts online: Android | iOSI didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeSep 29, 2026 13:52:24 UTC - Local time at epicenterTuesday, Sep 29, 2026, at 07:52 am (America/Costa Rica GMT -6)StatusconfirmedMagnitude4.20Depth20 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude9.3965°N / 84.2282°WCosta RicaSeismic antipode9.3965°S / 95.7718°EShaking intensityIV Light shaking near epicenterFelt7 reportsPrimary data sourceEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)Nearest volcanoIrazu (77 km / 48 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeBroken Clouds 26.6°C (80 F), humidity: 72%, wind: 1 m/s (2 kts) from SSWEstimated seismic energy released1.3 x 1011 joules (35 megawatt hours, equivalent to 30.1 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 4.2 | about seismic energy18 minutes ago reported feltSep 29, 2026 13:52 GMT / Sep 29, 2026 07:52 am (Costa Rica time)Lat / Lng: 9.3965 / -84.2282: Costa RicaSource: EMSCOther sources: RaspberryShake: 4.3 / 20 km, INETER: 4.0 / 22 km, 1 more...Detail info | Read user reports | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-23399133',9.39650,-84.22820,'18 minutes ago: Mag. 4.2, 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 62 km (38 mi) distance north 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(*)RegionCountry8 km (5 mi)NE of epicenterQuepos(pop: 7,810)IV: LightProvincia de PuntarenasCosta Rica37 km (23 mi)NE of epicenterSan Marcos(pop: 4,260)III: WeakTarrazu, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica39 km (24 mi)N of epicenterTejar(pop: 22,400)III: WeakAcosta, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica44 km (27 mi)NE of epicenterCopey(pop: 288)III: WeakDota, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica49 km (30 mi)N of epicenterSan Rafael Abajo(pop: 27,400)III: WeakPuriscal, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica54 km (33 mi)N of epicenterAserri(pop: 25,900)III: WeakAserri, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica56 km (35 mi)N of epicenterSan Juan de Dios(pop: 15,500)III: WeakDesamparados, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica56 km (35 mi)N of epicenterSan Miguel(pop: 28,800)III: WeakDesamparados, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica56 km (35 mi)N of epicenterSan Rafael Arriba(pop: 15,100)III: WeakDesamparados, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica58 km (36 mi)N of epicenterPatarra(pop: 24,000)III: WeakDesamparados, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica58 km (36 mi)N of epicenterSan Felipe(pop: 25,000)III: WeakAlajuelita, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica58 km (36 mi)N of epicenterAlajuelita(pop: 13,800)III: WeakProvincia de San JoseCosta Rica58 km (36 mi)E of epicenterSan Isidro(pop: 34,900)III: WeakPerez Zeledon, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica59 km (37 mi)N of epicenterEscazu(pop: 12,100)III: WeakEscazu, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica60 km (37 mi)N of epicenterSan Rafael(pop: 25,400)III: WeakEscazu, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica61 km (38 mi)NE of epicenterSan Diego(pop: 17,000)III: WeakLa Union, Provincia de CartagoCosta Rica61 km (38 mi)N of epicenterCurridabat(pop: 34,600)III: WeakProvincia de San JoseCosta Rica62 km (38 mi)E of epicenterDaniel Flores(pop: 10,000)III: WeakPerez Zeledon, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica62 km (38 mi)N of epicenterSan Jose(pop: 335,000)III: WeakSan Jose, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica62 km (39 mi)N of epicenterSan Pedro(pop: 27,500)III: WeakMontes de Oca, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica63 km (39 mi)NE of epicenterTres Rios(pop: 10,400)III: WeakLa Union, Provincia de CartagoCosta Rica63 km (39 mi)NE of epicenterParaiso(pop: 39,700)III: WeakParaiso, Provincia de CartagoCosta Rica64 km (40 mi)N of epicenterColima(pop: 15,900)III: WeakTibas, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica64 km (40 mi)NE of epicenterConcepcion(pop: 14,000)III: WeakLa Union, Provincia de CartagoCosta Rica64 km (40 mi)N of epicenterCalle Blancos(pop: 20,700)III: WeakGoicoechea, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica64 km (40 mi)N of epicenterGuadalupe(pop: 26,000)III: WeakGoicoechea, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica65 km (40 mi)N of epicenterSabanilla(pop: 13,300)III: WeakMontes de Oca, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica65 km (40 mi)N of epicenterSan Juan(pop: 26,000)III: WeakTibas, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica66 km (41 mi)N of epicenterSan Vicente(pop: 34,400)III: WeakMoravia, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica66 km (41 mi)N of epicenterSan Vicente(pop: 34,400)III: WeakMoravia, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica66 km (41 mi)N of epicenterSan Vicente de Moravia(pop: 34,400)III: WeakMoravia, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica66 km (41 mi)N of epicenterPurral(pop: 30,000)III: WeakGoicoechea, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica67 km (42 mi)N of epicenterSan Francisco(pop: 55,900)III: WeakHeredia, Provincia de HerediaCosta Rica68 km (42 mi)N of epicenterIpis(pop: 26,700)III: WeakGoicoechea, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica68 km (42 mi)N of epicenterSan Pablo(pop: 21,700)III: WeakProvincia de HerediaCosta Rica69 km (43 mi)N of epicenterMercedes(pop: 26,000)III: WeakHeredia, Provincia de HerediaCosta Rica72 km (45 mi)E of epicenterMercedes(pop: 5,470)III: WeakPerez Zeledon, Provincia de San JoseCosta Rica82 km (51 mi)NE of epicenterTurrialba(pop: 29,000)II: Very weakProvincia de CartagoCosta Rica103 km (64 mi)NE of epicenterGuapiles(pop: 19,100)II: Very weakPococi, Provincia de LimonCosta Rica111 km (69 mi)NE of epicenterSiquirres(pop: 18,200)II: Very weakProvincia de LimonCosta RicaNotes:(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.User-reports for this quake (8)The first report about ground shaking reached us after only 33 seconds, before other agencies reported it. So far, we have received 8 reports for this quake from Costa Rica. Out of these, 7 people indicated they felt it. The quake was reported to have been felt in up to approx. 60 km (37 mi) distance, with isolated cases to have felt the quake even 63 km (39 mi) away.Most reports came from San Isidro (2 reports), a town with 35,000 inhabitants in Provincia de San Jose in 58 km (36 mi) distance east of the epicenter, Costa Rica, Escazu (2 reports), a town with 12,000 inhabitants in 59 km (37 mi) distance north of the epicenter, and San Marcos (1 report) (37 km or 23 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!Translate4.7 km SE of epicenter [Map] / not feltQuepos (8.2 km ENE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Was sleeping and woke up feeling the bed shaking San Pedro, Montes de Oca (62.6 km NNE of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) (reported through our app)near San Isidro, Pérez Zeledón (49.6 km E of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app)Escazu, San José (59.9 km N of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) (reported through our app)near San Marcos, Tarrazú (27.8 km NE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) (reported through our app)Escazu, San José (59.8 km N of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) (reported through our app)near San Isidro, Pérez Zeledón (46.7 km ESE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) (reported through our app)List of cities/places with most reportsPlaceDistance from epicenterAverage reported Shaking IntensityNr. of reportsSan Isidro, Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica(Pop.: 34,877)58 km (36 mi)E of epicenterIV: Light shaking2Escazu, Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica(Pop.: 12,071)59 km (37 mi)N of epicenterII: Very weak shaking2San Marcos, Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica(Pop.: 4,255)37 km (23 mi)NE of epicenterIV: Light shaking1San Pedro, Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica(Pop.: 27,477)62 km (39 mi)N of epicenterII: Very weak shaking1Quepos, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica(Pop.: 7,810)8.2 km (5.1 mi)NE of epicenterIV: Light shaking1Note: Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (8 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 (*)I: Not felt14.8–4.8 km (3–3 mi)4.8 km (3 mi)II: Very weak shaking360–63 km (37–39 mi)61 km (38 mi)III: Weak shaking150–50 km (31–31 mi)50 km (31 mi)IV: Light shaking38.2–47 km (5.1–29 mi)28 km (17 mi)Notes(*) Reports are filtered to exclude those that are likely highly inaccurate or esaggerated.Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (8 in total) could be used for geographic statistics.Get the Android appI 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 GMT2026-09-29EpicenterAgency4.220 km12 mi13:52:24COSTA RICAEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)4.320 km12 mi13:52:24Costa Rica0 km (0 mi) epicenter difference with EMSCRaspberryShake (RaspberryShake)4.022 km14 mi13:52:249 Km al suroeste de Puerto Quepos, Costa Rica3.6 km (2.2 mi) epicenter difference with EMSCINETER4.320 km12 mi13:52:247.0 km al Suroeste de Parrita de Puntarenas0 km (0 mi) epicenter difference with EMSCOVSICORIAftershocks 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 2 km2 (1 square miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 2 km (1 mi).[More info]Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)Sep 29, 2026 07:52 am (Costa Rica)18 minutes ago - felt4.220 km0 km - This quake62 km S of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa RicaMain Shock (this quake)MoreMap of aftershocksEarthquake statisticsAverage number of earthquakesBased on data from the past 26 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 1,600 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 41.7 years)Mag. 6 or higher: 0.26 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 3.8 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 2.1 quakes per yearMag. 4 or higher: 46 quakes per year (or 3.9 quakes per month)Mag. 3 or higher: 501 quakes per year (or 42 quakes per month)Mag. 2 or higher: 1,300 quakes per year (or 3.7 quakes per day)Mag. 1 or higher: 1,600 quakes per year (or 4.4 quakes per day)The area where this quake occurred has a very high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 3 quakes above magnitude 7 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 40 to 45 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquake