M4.5 Earthquake 22 km W of Tamarindo, Costa Rica — October 15, 2026
2026-10-15 15:40:38 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 9:40 AM UTC-6 local
On October 15, 2026 at 15:40 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 22 km W of Tamarindo, Costa Rica, at a depth of 22.8 km and coordinates 10.3031°, -86.0490°. This earthquake was detected by 31 seismic stations with moderate location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-86.0490°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Tamarindo, Costa Rica?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 22 km W of Tamarindo, Costa Rica on October 15, 2026 at 15:40 UTC had a depth of 22.8 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 10.3031°, -86.0490°, which is 22 km W of Tamarindo, Costa Rica.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000u2i9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 15, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 22 km W of Tamarindo, Costa Rica — October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 15, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000u2i9/