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M3.4 Depth: 42.0 km

M3.4 Earthquake near San Mateo, Alajuela (Costa Rica)

UTC time: 2026-01-24 22:03:12 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On January 24, 2026 at 22:03 UTC, a magnitude M3.4 earthquake occurred near San Mateo, Alajuela (Costa Rica). With a focal depth of about 42 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Shaking of this size is frequently noticed but usually harmless.

The event was recorded by EMSC. Costa Rica: over the past 24 hours, QuakeMap24 logged 6 earthquakes, the strongest at M3.8.

Details

Magnitude
M3.4
Depth
42.0 km
UTC time
2026-01-24 22:03:12 UTC
Local time
—
Country
Costa Rica
State
Alajuela
City
San Mateo
County
San Mateo
Source
emsc
Coordinates
9.95260, -84.55540
Temperature
23.1°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 42 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 42 km
Shallow
42 km
42 km — deeper than the regional average (27.1 km)
Regional average: 27.1 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Volcanoes nearby

  • Platanar
    Distance: 44 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 2'267 m ·Costa Rica
  • Poas
    Distance: 45 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'697 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·Costa Rica
  • Barva
    Distance: 54 km ·Complex ·Elevation: 2'906 m ·Last eruption: -6050 ·Costa Rica
  • Arenal
    Distance: 59 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'670 m ·Last eruption: 2010 ·Costa Rica
  • Irazu
    Distance: 77 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 3'436 m ·Last eruption: 1977 ·Costa Rica
  • Turrialba
    Distance: 87 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 3'340 m ·Last eruption: 2022 ·Costa Rica

Historic earthquake map · Costa Rica

Open history map
Explore recent and long-term earthquake activity in this country. Use filters to narrow down by magnitude, depth, and date range.

Country statistics · Costa Rica

Country overview
View earthquake KPIs, strongest and latest events, and averages for this country.

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