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M3.5 Depth: 5.0 km

M3.5 Earthquake near Golfito, Puntarenas Province (Costa Rica)

UTC time: 2026-08-20 15:22:36 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On August 20, 2026 at 15:22 UTC, a magnitude M3.5 earthquake occurred near Golfito, Puntarenas Province (Costa Rica). With a focal depth of about 5 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Earthquakes of this magnitude are often felt but rarely cause damage.

The event was recorded by EMSC. Costa Rica: 5 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.0.

Details

Magnitude
M3.5
Depth
5.0 km
UTC time
2026-08-20 15:22:36 UTC
Local time
—
Country
Costa Rica
State
Puntarenas Province
City
Golfito
County
Golfito
Source
emsc
Coordinates
8.64300, -83.24400
Temperature
28.1°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 5 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 5 km
Shallow
5 km
5 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

  • Baru
    Distance: 79 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 3'474 m ·Last eruption: 1550 ·Panama
  • Irazu
    Distance: 163 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 3'436 m ·Last eruption: 1977 ·Costa Rica
  • Turrialba
    Distance: 164 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 3'340 m ·Last eruption: 2022 ·Costa Rica
  • Barva
    Distance: 191 km ·Complex ·Elevation: 2'906 m ·Last eruption: -6050 ·Costa Rica
  • Poas
    Distance: 204 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'697 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·Costa Rica
  • Platanar
    Distance: 222 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 2'267 m ·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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