4.5

M4.5 Earthquake 49 km NW of Tamarindo, Costa RicaMay 27, 2026

2026-05-27 17:10:24 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 11:10 AM UTC-6 local

MagnitudeM4.5(mb)
Time17:10 UTC11:10 AM UTC-6
Depth33.9 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates10.585°, -86.190°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 27, 2026 at 17:10 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 49 km NW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica, at a depth of 33.9 km and coordinates 10.5853°, -86.1904°. This earthquake was detected by 91 seismic stations with good 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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 10.59°, -86.19°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.5 mb
Depth
33.9 km
shallow crustal
Location
10.5853°N
-86.1904°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000snwp
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
312
Stations Used
91
Azimuthal Gap
169.0°
Min Station Distance
1.252°
RMS Residual
0.54 sec
Last Updated
2026-05-27 17:54:10 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Tamarindo, Costa Rica?

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 49 km NW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica on May 27, 2026 at 17:10 UTC had a depth of 33.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 10.5853°, -86.1904°, which is 49 km NW 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.

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: us7000snwp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 27, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 49 km NW of Tamarindo, Costa RicaMay 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000snwp/