Earthquake Alerts in Costa Rica
Earthquake Alerts for Costa Rica (Central America) come from Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE). This page explains what these warnings mean, which authority publishes them, and how to check the current status for San José.
Check live earthquakes, status for San JoséBrowse all warnings
At a glance
- countryCosta Rica · North America
- reference citySan José (9.93, -84.08)
- emergencyPrimary emergency number911
- risk profilestorm, flood, landslide, earthquake, volcano, tsunami, drought
What counts as a earthquake alerts
Earthquakes cannot be predicted, so these pages track detection and early warning instead: seismological networks publish magnitude, depth and location within minutes, and some countries operate early warning that reaches people seconds before strong shaking. Aftershocks are a separate, real hazard for days or weeks after a main shock.
Who issues earthquake alerts in Costa Rica
- meteoInstituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN)
- civilComisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE)
Warning levels, colours and terminology are set nationally. Always read the warning text of the issuing authority: it names the affected districts, the expected time window and the recommended action.
If a warning is active in Costa Rica
- Drop, cover and hold on - get under a sturdy table, away from glass.
- Expect aftershocks and keep away from damaged buildings.
- If you are on the coast and shaking lasts longer than a minute, move inland or uphill immediately.
Where the data comes from
Waarning reads public, key-free sources for Costa Rica: USGS, EMSC, national seismological networks, Copernicus EMS. Measurements and official warnings are shown separately, and official warnings always keep the name of the authority that issued them.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues earthquake alerts in Costa Rica?
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE). Waarning does not issue warnings; it aggregates the public feeds of these bodies and links back to the original source.
What is the emergency number in Costa Rica?
The primary emergency number is 911. Use it for a life-threatening situation; for non-urgent reports use the local police station number.
Does Waarning show live earthquake alerts for Costa Rica?
Yes. The dashboard loads the current values for San José from USGS, EMSC, national seismological networks, Copernicus EMS. You can open it with one click and the location is already set.
More warnings for Costa Rica
- Severe Weather Warnings
- Flood Warnings
- Drought Warnings
- Air Quality Warnings
- Volcano Alerts
- Tsunami Warnings
Earthquake Alerts in nearby countries
Generated 2026-10-18. Waarning is not an official warning service; in an emergency follow local authorities and emergency services.