SANTA CRUZ, Guanacaste Province — A 5.7 magnitude quake occurred near Tamarindo around midnight Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

A tremor jolted the area at 06:56 UTC (00:56 local time). The earthquake’s epicenter was approximately 72 km southwest of Tamarindo and occurred at a depth of 17 km.

Did you feel it?

If you experienced the quake, you can share your observations using the USGS Felt Report form. The agency has so far received 35 reports via its online form from people who indicate they felt weak to light shaking. According to the USGS DYFI report, residents in cities including San Vicente, San José, Sardinal and Sámara reported experiencing the tremor.

Impact and estimated losses

The USGS categorized this as a Green Alert, which means there is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and liquefaction that might have contributed to losses.

Structure information summary
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are mud wall and informal (metal, timber, GI etc.) construction.

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey