M4.7 Earthquake 20 km S of Golfito, Costa Rica — March 17, 2026
2026-03-17 20:25:26 UTC (2026-03-17) · approx. 2:25 PM UTC-6 local
Felt by 6 people across nearby locations.
On March 17, 2026 at 20:25 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 20 km S of Golfito, Costa Rica, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 8.4189°, -83.1030°. This earthquake was detected by 31 seismic stations with moderate location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 342, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 6 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
-83.1030°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Golfito, Costa Rica?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 20 km S of Golfito, Costa Rica on March 17, 2026 at 20:25 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 8.4189°, -83.1030°, which is 20 km S of Golfito, Costa Rica.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000sh19). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, March 17, 2026). M4.7 Earthquake 20 km S of Golfito, Costa Rica — March 17, 2026. Retrieved May 21, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sh19/