Live seismic activity in Costa Rica — updated every 60 seconds from USGS data. Costa Rica lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, with subduction earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Costa Rica lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, with subduction earthquakes and volcanic activity. The 1991 Limón earthquake (M7.7) was Costa Rica's largest in the 20th century. Major faults include Middle America Trench, Arenal fault zone, Limón fault. Notable quakes include 1991 Limón (M7.7), 2009 Cinchona (M6.1). The seismic risk is high. Tectonically, Costa Rica lies on cocos plate subducting beneath caribbean plate. This page provides real‑time USGS data and historical context for Costa Rica.
The region is defined by Middle America Trench, Arenal fault zone, Limón fault, and the risk level is classified as High. With a population of 5.1 million, understanding local seismic hazards is crucial.
Costa Rica lies on Cocos Plate subducting beneath Caribbean Plate. The movement of these plates builds up stress, which is released as earthquakes. In subduction zones, one plate dives beneath another, generating some of the largest quakes on Earth. In some regions, strike‑slip faults produce frequent moderate earthquakes.
The strongest recorded earthquake in Costa Rica was the 1991 Limón earthquake (M7.7). 1991 Limón (M7.7)
Costa Rica experiences approximately 200-500 earthquakes per year, with 20-50 felt (M3.0+) and 2-5 potentially damaging events (M5.0+) annually, according to USGS historical data.
The most recent major earthquake in Costa Rica was the 1991 Limón earthquake (M7.7). 1991 Limón (M7.7)
Yes. Costa Rica is crossed by Middle America Trench, Arenal fault zone, Limón fault, making it prone to seismic activity. The seismic risk level is classified as High.
Drop, cover, and hold on. Stay away from windows, and if outdoors, move to an open area. After the shaking stops, check for injuries and be ready for aftershocks. Prepare an emergency kit with water, food, first aid, and a flashlight.
Data sources: USGS real‑time feed, USGS historical archive, and Wikipedia. Page refreshes live earthquake data every 60 seconds.