M4.0 Earthquake 2 km WSW of Colima, Costa Rica — January 19, 2026
2026-01-19 23:06:55 UTC (2026-01-19) · approx. 5:06 PM UTC-6 local
Felt by 13 people across nearby locations. Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On January 19, 2026 at 23:06 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 2 km WSW of Colima, Costa Rica, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 9.9502°, -84.1028°. This earthquake was detected by 6 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 251, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred 24 days ago 2 km NNE of Palmichal, Costa Rica. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 13 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
-84.1028°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Colima, Costa Rica?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 2 km WSW of Colima, Costa Rica on January 19, 2026 at 23:06 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 9.9502°, -84.1028°, which is 2 km WSW of Colima, Costa Rica.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 2 km NNE of Palmichal, Costa Rica. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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: us7000rqtv). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 19, 2026). M4.0 Earthquake 2 km WSW of Colima, Costa Rica — January 19, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rqtv/