A 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook Costa Rica’s capital last night frightening residents out of their homes, setting off alarms, and knocking items off shelves. No immediate reports of casualties or serious damage have been issued.
The tremor lasted between 30 and 40 seconds, shaking the Central Valley, north-central Costa Rica, Guanacaste, northwest of San José, and in Nicaragua. Residents reported that the seismic activity lasted long and was extremely strong.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the tremor struck 41 kilometers northwest of San José near Zarcero in north-central Costa Rica at a depth of 98 kilometers below the earth’s surface.
The Costa Rica Seismological and Volcanic Observatory reported the earthquake struck nine kilometers northeast of Zarcero at 100 kilometers below the earth’s surface and with a magnitude of 5.5.
The Red Cross in San Carlos, one of the main cities in northern Costa Rica, says it received no emergency calls.
Costa Rica is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the east and south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and south and the Caribbean Sea to the east.
Costa Rica is the most visited nation in the Central American region, with a $2.2 billion per year tourism industry.
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Glad there were no serious casualties from the Costa Rican earthquake.
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