RICO’s Q — Typically, I have slept through most earthquakes. But not last night, when a 5.3 magnitude earthquake shook most of Costa Rica.
The earthquake occurred on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 9:49 PM (local time), in central Costa Rica. The Red Sismológica Nacional (RSN) at the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) reported the epicenter 2 km al Oeste de San Ignacio, Acosta (coordinates 9,806 & -84,184), at a depth of 64 km.
The Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (OVSICORI) of the Universidad Nacional (UNA) reported the quake as a 5.2 magnitude, with the epicenter 0.8 km al Sureste de PERPETUO SOCORRO, Cangrejal, Acosta, San Jose.
While it was felt strongly in the Central Valley (including San José, Heredia, and Alajuela) and in the Central Pacific, reports of the tremor came in from all over the country.
The earthquake caused alarm among the population due to its intensity, although no serious structural damage was immediately reported.