Nicaragua: Magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurs in the south of the country March 13

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred in southern Nicaragua at around 01:57 March 13. The epicenter was about 8 km (5 miles) west of Rivas. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 163 km (101 miles), and weak to light shaking was likely in southern Nicaragua and northwestern Costa Rica. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties, and significant damage is unlikely given the depth and magnitude of the temblor. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, vacate multistoried buildings or unreinforced structures in areas where strong shaking occurred. Monitor local media for updates and advisories from the authorities.