Costa Rica – A major 7.6 earthquake has struck along the Pacific prompting Tsunami Watches and Warnings for the Pacific. The epicenter is along the northwestern coast of Costa Rica in a moderately populated region. Expect major damage.

Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
7.6 Mww
Date-Time
• 5 Sep 2012 14:42:10 UTC
• 5 Sep 2012 08:42:10 near epicenter
• 5 Sep 2012 07:42:10 standard time in your timezone
Location
10.120N 85.347W
Depth
40 km
Distances
• 60 km (38 miles) SSE (167 degrees) of Liberia, Costa Rica
• 127 km (79 miles) SSW (209 degrees) of San Carlos, Nicaragua
• 141 km (88 miles) W (276 degrees) of SAN JOSE, Costa Rica

Tsunami Evaluation

It is not known that a tsunami was generated. This warning is based only on the earthquake evaluation. An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours.

An evaluation of the pacific wide tsunami threat is underway and there is a possibility that Hawaii could be elevated to a watch or warning status.

The tsunami watch for the Caribbean is cancelled because it was meant for the Pacific and was inadvertently sent to the Caribbean by mistake.

Watches & Warnings

The earthquake magnitude is reduced to 7.6 the warning area is reduced...so the warning is cancelled for el Salvador...Honduras...Mexico...Colombia...Ecuador...Guatemala and Peru.

A tsunami warning is in effect for

Costa Rica / Panama / Nicaragua

Damage Estimate: Moderate to major damage is expected within 40 miles of the epicenter.