2009 Costa Rica earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Costa Rica earthquake (also known as Cinchona Earthquake), occurred at 1:21:34 pm local time
(19:21:34 UTC) on January 8, 2009. The epicenter of the 6.1 Mw
earthquake
was in northern Costa Rica
, 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) north-northwest of San José
. The earthquake was felt all over Costa Rica as well as in southern central Nicaragua
.
by the Poás Volcano
, and 452 people including 369 tourists were evacuated from the area in helicopters. 1,244 people were displaced in the immediate aftermath. In addition, a hotel, houses, roads, and vehicles were damaged, and several bridges were also destroyed. The town of Cinchona was heavily hit, and all of the buildings there were heavily damaged. Power was temporarily disrupted in San José
.
sent 400 personnel to assist in the recovery. The agency said, "Some 42 communities were affected and sustained serious impacts on civil and electrical infrastructure... [They] are going to need a lot of help."
Four helicopter
s were also dispatched in order to help aid efforts. The Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (National Emergency Commission) also requested for private helicopters to help with the aid. Additionally, the United States
and Colombia
dispatched helicopters with aid to assist with the relief and recovery efforts.
About 2,000 aftershock
s have been felt throughout Costa Rica
.
On January 12, the president Oscar Arias
declared National Grieving of 5 days out of respect for the victims, and asked the organizers of the Fiestas de Palmares
to postpone them.
On January 13, the 'Banco de Costa Rica' announced that it would offer home financing credit to homeowners who want to rebuild or fix their home.
UTC-6
UTC−06 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of −06. This time is used in:-Central America:*Belize*Costa Rica*El Salvador*Guatemala*Honduras*Nicaragua-Central Standard Time:...
(19:21:34 UTC) on January 8, 2009. The epicenter of the 6.1 Mw
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
was in northern Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) north-northwest of San José
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
. The earthquake was felt all over Costa Rica as well as in southern central Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
.
Damage
The earthquake took at least 34 lives, including at least three children, left about 64 people missing, and injured at least 91. Hundreds of people were trapped and two villages had been cut off. Most of the victims died when a landslide occurred near the La Paz waterfallLa Paz Waterfall, Costa Rica
La Paz is a waterfall in central Costa Rica. In Spanish, it is known as Catarata de La Paz. It is located north of Alajuela, between Vara Blanca and Cinchona....
by the Poás Volcano
Poás Volcano
The Poás Volcano, in Spanish Volcán Poás, is an active stratovolcano in central Costa Rica. Poás has erupted 39 times since 1828.- Crater lakes :...
, and 452 people including 369 tourists were evacuated from the area in helicopters. 1,244 people were displaced in the immediate aftermath. In addition, a hotel, houses, roads, and vehicles were damaged, and several bridges were also destroyed. The town of Cinchona was heavily hit, and all of the buildings there were heavily damaged. Power was temporarily disrupted in San José
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
.
Aftermath
The Costa Rican Red CrossInternational Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human...
sent 400 personnel to assist in the recovery. The agency said, "Some 42 communities were affected and sustained serious impacts on civil and electrical infrastructure... [They] are going to need a lot of help."
Four helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s were also dispatched in order to help aid efforts. The Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (National Emergency Commission) also requested for private helicopters to help with the aid. Additionally, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
dispatched helicopters with aid to assist with the relief and recovery efforts.
About 2,000 aftershock
Aftershock
An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after a previous large earthquake, in the same area of the main shock. If an aftershock is larger than the main shock, the aftershock is redesignated as the main shock and the original main shock is redesignated as a foreshock...
s have been felt throughout Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
.
On January 12, the president Oscar Arias
Óscar Arias
Óscar Arias Sánchez is a Costa Rican politician who was President of Costa Rica from 2006 to 2010. He previously served as President from 1986 to 1990 and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to end civil wars then raging in several other Central American countries.He is also a...
declared National Grieving of 5 days out of respect for the victims, and asked the organizers of the Fiestas de Palmares
Palmares
Palmares may refer to:*Palmares, Pernambuco, a municipality in the state of Pernambuco in Brazil*Palmares Paulista*Palmares Canton, a canton in the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica...
to postpone them.
On January 13, the 'Banco de Costa Rica' announced that it would offer home financing credit to homeowners who want to rebuild or fix their home.