The Gold Coast beaches of Guanacaste were jolted by an earthquake as residents and tourists were preparing to enjoy the weekend. According to a report by the Observatory of Seismology and Volcanology of Costa Rica (Spanish acronym: OVSICORI), the seismic movement was detected at a few minutes past 1:00 pm, with an epicenter 14 kilometers north of Playas del Coco at a depth of 50 kilometers. The recorded magnitude was 4.1 MW.

 

Early reports by residents of Playa Sardinal and the town of Filadelfia indicate that the quake was strongly felt at a time when many people were finishing lunch or enjoying their afternoon siesta, a revered tradition in Guanacaste. Other beach communities that were jolted by the afternoon quake include Tamarindo Beach, Playa Potrero and Playa Nosara. Reports of less intensity in Liberia and Nicoya were received by the OVSICORI social networks. In the Santa Cruz farmlands, locals reported a brief and strong earth movement. No reports arrived from the populous Central Valley of Costa Rica.

 

October has been a shaky month for our seismic country. As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star:

 

On Monday, October 13th after 9:30 pm, the Observatory of Seismology and Volcanology in Costa Rica (Spanish acronym: OVSICORI) of the National University and the National Seismology Network (Spanish initials: RSN) 0f the University of Costa Rica reported three seismic disturbances. The first one occurred at 9:31 pm, the second at 9:42 pm and the third at 9:51 pm. The latter quake was strongly felt across the country even though the epicenter was off the coast of Nicaragua and El Salvador.

 

Another concern among geologists has been the Poas Volcano, which has been pretty active lately:

 

A video recorded by geologists at the Observatory of Seismicity and Volcanology of the National University shows a massive phreatic (ground water) eruption that sent Earth matter flying up in at a height of more than 200 meters.