Nicaragua: Magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurs off the Pacific Ocean coast Nov. 27

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Nicaragua at around 02:32 Nov. 27. The epicenter was about 32 km (20 miles) southwest of Masachapa. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 53 km (33 miles), and weak shaking was probably felt throughout parts of western Nicaragua and northwestern Costa Rica. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake, and significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

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, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.