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M3.0 Depth: 19.0 km

M3.0 Earthquake near Cabo Velas, Guanacaste (Costa Rica)

UTC time: 2026-08-23 15:53:21 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On August 23, 2026 at 15:53 UTC, a magnitude M3.0 earthquake occurred near Cabo Velas, Guanacaste (Costa Rica). The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 19 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. 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 5 earthquakes, the strongest at M3.0.

Details

Magnitude
M3.0
Depth
19.0 km
UTC time
2026-08-23 15:53:21 UTC
Local time
—
Country
Costa Rica
State
Guanacaste
City
Cabo Velas
County
Santa Cruz
Source
emsc
Coordinates
10.32500, -85.83650
Temperature
29.4°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 19 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 19 km
Shallow
19 km
19 km — shallower than the regional average (27.4 km)
Regional average: 27.4 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

  • Rincon de la Vieja
    Distance: 78 km ·Complex ·Elevation: 1'729 m ·Last eruption: 2024 ·Costa Rica
  • Orosi
    Distance: 83 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'659 m ·Costa Rica
  • Miravalles
    Distance: 88 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'028 m ·Last eruption: 1946 ·Costa Rica
  • Tenorio
    Distance: 98 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'916 m ·Costa Rica
  • Arenal
    Distance: 125 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'670 m ·Last eruption: 2010 ·Costa Rica
  • Concepcion
    Distance: 137 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'700 m ·Last eruption: 2024 ·Nicaragua

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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