M 5.5 in Costa Rica on 21 Mar 2023 01:44 UTC

Hazard models

Rapid Impact
Shakemap
Tsunami

Event summary

This earthquake is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

Earthquake Magnitude: 5.5M
Depth: 35 Km
Lat/Lon: 9.3599 , -84.0943
Event Date: 21 Mar 2023 01:44 UTC
20 Mar 2023 19:44 Local
Exposed Population: 40 thousand in MMI V
Source: NEIC us7000jlkb
Inserted at: 21 Mar 2023 02:06 UTC
INFORM Coping capacity of the alert score: 2.7 (Costa Rica)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
  Earthquake
(Shakemap)		 GDACS score
NEIC 0 0
us7000jlkb Scaled population (raster) 0  
  C1 shakemap 0  
  C2 shakemap 0  
  Country Vulnerability 0  
  INFORM_normalised 0  
Maximum expected impact using different data sources.

ShakeMap is a product of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program in conjunction with the regional seismic networks. ShakeMaps provide near-real-time maps of ground motion and shaking intensity following significant earthquakes.


Episode Timeline

IDAlertScoreDateMag, DepthMMI*Population**Tsunami risk***Delay (hh:mm)Source
1496579 0 21 Mar 2023 01:44 5.5M, 35km 3.95 N/A (in MMI>=VII) 00:21 NEIC
The episode that generated the alert; the next major evaluations beyond 12 hours will not trigger additional alerts.
The episode that has the last updated information.
* The max MMI detected for sources having shakemaps;
** The population detected in MMI>=7 for episode with shakemap or in a 100km radius;
*** The tsunami max height.

Exposed population

The earthquake happened in Costa Rica ,of Alajuela (population 578,124) . The alertlevel for this event is GREEN

Intensity Population
no people


Shakemaps Timeline

AlertShake id #ScoreepisodeidLat/LonMagnitudeDepthMax MMIDate shake (UTC)Delay (hh:mm) 
1 0 1496579 -84.094/9.36 5.5 35 4.443 21 Mar 2023 02:10 00:26 (new episode)
2 0 1496579 -84.094/9.36 5.5 35 4.238 21 Mar 2023 02:22 00:38 (upd of #1)
3 0 1496579 -84.094/9.36 5.5 35 3.961 21 Mar 2023 03:48 02:04 (upd of #2)
4 0 1496579 -84.094/9.36 5.5 35 3.965 21 Mar 2023 12:58 11:14 (upd of #3)
5 0 1496579 -84.127/9.363 5.5 35 3.947 22 Mar 2023 01:40 23:56 (upd of #4)
6 0 1496579 -84.127/9.363 5.5 35 3.947 22 Mar 2023 02:40 1d 00:56 (upd of #5)

Affected Provinces

Intensity Region Province Country Population
Puntarenas Costa Rica 62000 people
San Jose Costa Rica 150000 people
Cartago Costa Rica no people
Puntarenas Costa Rica 330000 people
San Jose Costa Rica 1.3 million people
Cartago Costa Rica 530000 people
Alajuela Costa Rica 840000 people
Heredia Costa Rica 540000 people
Limon Costa Rica 390000 people
Guanacaste Costa Rica 6200 people
Bocas del Toro Panama no people
Chiriqui Panama 38000 people
Rivas Nicaragua no people
Alajuela Costa Rica no people

Affected populated places. Areas of interest

Intensity Name Region Province Country City class Population Distance
Savegre Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 7 km
Puerto Quepos Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 9 km
Portalón Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 13 km
Hatillo Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 22 km
San Joaquín San José Costa Rica Village - 24 km
Dominical Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 29 km
Parrita Puntarenas Costa Rica Village 3500 people 30 km
San Marcos San José Costa Rica Village - 33 km
San Isidro San José Costa Rica Village 34000 people 43 km
Quebradas San José Costa Rica Village - 43 km
Uvita Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 45 km
Angostura San José Costa Rica Village - 46 km
Rivas San José Costa Rica Village - 48 km
Esterillos Este Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 49 km
Quina Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 52 km
Santa María San José Costa Rica Village - 56 km
Mesas San José Costa Rica Village - 58 km
Las Delicias San José Costa Rica Village - 61 km
San Pedro San José Costa Rica Village - 61 km
Pejibaye San José Costa Rica Village - 62 km
Savegre San José Costa Rica Village - 29 km
Esperanza San José Costa Rica Village - 30 km
Providencia San José Costa Rica Village - 33 km
Tinamaste San José Costa Rica Village - 35 km
Santa María San José Costa Rica Village - 42 km
Frailes San José Costa Rica Village - 43 km
Jorco San José Costa Rica Village - 48 km
San Ignacio San José Costa Rica Village 3000 people 49 km
Tarbaca San José Costa Rica Village - 50 km
Buena Vista San José Costa Rica Village - 51 km
Reyes San José Costa Rica Village - 51 km
Orosí Cartago Costa Rica Village 4300 people 55 km
Salitrillos San José Costa Rica Village 5700 people 55 km
San Rafael Cartago Costa Rica Village - 55 km
Herradura San José Costa Rica Village - 56 km
Sanchirí Cartago Costa Rica Village - 57 km
Cartago Cartago Costa Rica Village 27000 people 58 km
Santiago San José Costa Rica City 7700 people 59 km
Desamparados San José Costa Rica Village 39000 people 59 km
San José San José Costa Rica Capital 330000 people 63 km
Villa Colón San José Costa Rica Village - 63 km
San Pedro San José Costa Rica Village 28000 people 63 km
Coronado Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 63 km
Pochotal Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 63 km
Pital San José Costa Rica Village - 64 km
Guadalupe San José Costa Rica City 13000 people 65 km
Chile San José Costa Rica Village - 65 km
Cacao Cartago Costa Rica Village - 65 km
Tucurrique Cartago Costa Rica Village 2700 people 67 km
Águila Abajo San José Costa Rica Village - 67 km
Tibás Heredia Costa Rica City - 68 km
Herradura Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 68 km
Juan Viñas Cartago Costa Rica Village - 69 km
Heredia Heredia Costa Rica Village 22000 people 70 km
San Miguel Alajuela Costa Rica Village 27000 people 70 km
San Pablo San José Costa Rica Village 18000 people 71 km
Camaronal Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 73 km
Volcán Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 73 km
Alajuela Alajuela Costa Rica City 47000 people 74 km
Concepción Heredia Costa Rica Village 20000 people 75 km
Turrialba Cartago Costa Rica Village 28000 people 75 km
Mercedes Alajuela Costa Rica Village 21000 people 75 km
Canadá Cartago Costa Rica Village - 76 km
Paracito San Jose Costa Rica Village - 77 km
Puerto Cortés Puntarenas Costa Rica Village 3500 people 77 km
Orotina Alajuela Costa Rica Village 6100 people 77 km
Santa Cruz Cartago Costa Rica Village - 78 km
Maíz de los Uva Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 78 km
Pilas Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 79 km
San Mateo Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 79 km
San Rafael Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 80 km
Ángeles Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 80 km
Vol Turrialba Cartago Costa Rica Village - 80 km
Poas Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 80 km
Grecia Alajuela Costa Rica Village 12000 people 82 km
Palmar Sur Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 83 km
Bajamar Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 83 km
Buenos Aires Puntarenas Costa Rica Village 12000 people 86 km
Naranjo Alajuela Costa Rica Village 12000 people 86 km
Chirripó Cartago Costa Rica Village - 88 km
Jesús María Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 88 km
Vara Blanca Heredia Costa Rica Village - 90 km
San Ramón Alajuela Costa Rica Village 10000 people 90 km
San Antonio Limón Costa Rica Village - 90 km
Boruca Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 94 km
Esparza Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 94 km
Térraba Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 95 km
Brujo Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 95 km
Buena Vista Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 96 km
Zarcero Alajuela Costa Rica Village 3500 people 96 km
San Miguel Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 97 km
Toro Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 97 km
Venecia Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 98 km
Guápiles Limón Costa Rica Village 16000 people 99 km
Cariblanco Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 101 km
Toro Amarillo Limón Costa Rica Village - 102 km
Siquirres Limón Costa Rica City 18000 people 104 km
Pocora Este Limón Costa Rica Village - 104 km
Guácimo Limón Costa Rica Village 6300 people 105 km
Paquera Puntarenas Costa Rica Village 1500 people 105 km
Puntarenas Puntarenas Costa Rica City 35000 people 106 km
Finca Las Delicias Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 107 km
Pitahaya Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 107 km
Monteverde Limón Costa Rica Village - 108 km
Cabécar Limón Costa Rica Village - 109 km
Peninsula de Osa Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 109 km
San Lucas Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 109 km
Gigante Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 110 km
Indiana Tres Limón Costa Rica Village - 110 km
Tambor Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 110 km
San Alberto Limón Costa Rica Village - 110 km
Las Vueltas Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 110 km
Corina Limón Costa Rica Village - 110 km
Marsella Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 111 km
Moctezuma Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 112 km
Cabuya Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 112 km
Río Jiménez Limón Costa Rica Village - 112 km
Quesada Alajuela Costa Rica City 27000 people 112 km
Potrero Grande Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 113 km
Piedras Blancas Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 114 km

see full list


Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Intensity Name IATA Code Elevation (m) Usage Runway type IFR Runway Length (ft) Distance
Quepos Managua 32 Civ. Paved No 3600 10 km
Tobias Bolanos International SYQ 994 Civ. Paved No 3200 66 km
Juan Santamaria International SJO 921 Civ. Paved Yes 9800 71 km
Nuevo Palmar Sur 5 0 81 km
Palmar Sur PMZ 15 Civ. Paved No 4500 82 km
Buenos Aires BAI 370 Civ. Paved No 3100 86 km
Guapiles GPL 269 Civ. Paved No 3600 100 km
Chacarita 2 Civ. Paved No 4900 102 km
San Alberto 27 Civ. Unpaved No 3200 109 km
Tambor TMU unknown 0 109 km
Rio Frio RFR unknown 0 110 km
Santa Clara de Guapiles 80 Civ. Paved No 3100 111 km
Santa Maria de Guacimo 10 Civ. Paved No 3200 113 km
El Carmen 18 Civ. Paved No 3200 116 km
San Pedro 64 0 122 km
Puerto Jimenez PJM unknown 0 126 km
Pandora 15 0 130 km
Limon International LIO 2 Civ. Paved No 5900 135 km
Palo Arco 100 Civ. Paved No 3200 136 km
Finca 63 11 Civ. Paved No 3200 138 km
San Vito de Java TOO 984 Civ. Paved No 3200 138 km
Coto 47 OTR 8 Civ. Paved No 3200 150 km
Las Tierras Altas 1524 0 170 km

Ports

Intensity Name LOCODE Country Distance
Dominical Costa Rica 33 km
Quepos (Puerto Quepos) CRXQP Costa Rica 11 km
Caldera CRCAL Costa Rica 91 km
Puntarenas CRPAS Costa Rica 106 km
Puerto Jimenez Costa Rica 121 km
Moin Bay (Puerto Limon) CRMOB Costa Rica 134 km
Puerto Limon CRLIO Costa Rica 136 km

Dams

Intensity Reservoir Dam Name River Year Distance
Cachi Reventazon 1966 62 km

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.