4.4

M4.4 Earthquake 42 km NW of Tamarindo, Costa RicaMay 24, 2026

2026-05-24 16:16:06 UTC (2026-05-24) · approx. 10:16 AM UTC-6 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time16:16 UTC10:16 AM UTC-6
Depth35.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates10.594°, -86.083°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 24, 2026 at 16:16 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 42 km NW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 10.5943°, -86.0829°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 10.59°, -86.08°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
35.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
10.5943°N
-86.0829°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000szxw
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Stations Used
33
Azimuthal Gap
197.0°
Min Station Distance
0.791°
RMS Residual
0.92 sec
Last Updated
2026-05-30 19:33:16 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Tamarindo, Costa Rica?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 42 km NW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica on May 24, 2026 at 16:16 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000szxw). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 24, 2026). M4.4 Earthquake 42 km NW of Tamarindo, Costa RicaMay 24, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000szxw/