Intense seismic activity shakes the central region of Costa Rica
In the early hours of this Monday, August 24, the inhabitants of the central region of Costa Rica experienced moments of tension following a 5.3 magnitude earthquake. The natural phenomenon, recorded at 1:37 a.m., had its epicenter 10 kilometers north of Cascajal de Coronado, in the province of San José, with a shallow depth of approximately 7 kilometers.
Barely two minutes after the main event, a 4.8 magnitude aftershock shook the area again. According to technical reports, both movements were perceived with intensities of grade V to VI, which caused the tremor to be felt with notable clarity in various buildings in the region.
Origin of the movements
Experts have pointed to the Río Sucio fault system as the cause of this seismic sequence. Studies conducted since the nineties have made it possible to identify this geological structure, which has an extension of about 30 kilometers and is characterized by strike-slip faults with steep dips.
The preliminary analysis of the focal mechanism and the spatial location of the events confirm the direct relationship with the Río Sucio system, an area that has historically demonstrated its capacity to generate significant earthquakes in densely populated areas.
Background and continuous surveillance
The Coronado area is no stranger to this type of activity. Historically, the Río Sucio system has been linked to significant events, such as the 1952 Patillos earthquake (magnitude 5.9) and the 2016 Capellades earthquake (magnitude 5.5). More recently, in August 2023, a magnitude 4.4 movement was reported in the vicinity of the area currently affected.
- As of 2:00 p.m. this Monday, at least 23 aftershocks with magnitudes equal to or greater than 2.2 were recorded.
- Specialists are maintaining constant vigilance regarding the possibility of continued minor movements in the coming days.
- The frequency of aftershocks is expected to gradually decrease as the hours pass.
Given the high seismicity characteristic of Costa Rica, authorities urge the population to stay informed through official channels. Instrumental surveillance remains active to monitor the behavior of this sequence and update any relevant data regarding the stability of the area.
