By Puntarenas, Costa Rica — UVITA, Puntarenas – Residents across Costa Rica’s Central Valley received a crucial heads-up on Monday afternoon, not from the tell-tale rattling of windows, but from a notification on their smartphones. The country’s state-of-the-art earthquake early warning system, developed by the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (Ovsicori), successfully alerted users approximately 15 seconds before the ground began to shake from a moderate offshore earthquake.
The seismic event, which registered a magnitude of 5.0, occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. Its epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean, about 60 kilometers southwest of the Marino Ballena National Park in Uvita, a popular tourist destination in the nation’s South Pacific region. The quake was exceptionally shallow, originating at a depth of just five kilometers, which can often lead to more perceptible shaking on the surface despite a moderate magnitude.
To better understand the legal responsibilities and business implications tied to the new earthquake alert system, TicosLand.com sought the expertise of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
While an early warning system is a monumental step for public safety, it also introduces a new dimension of legal liability and corporate responsibility. Businesses must now consider how this technology integrates into their emergency preparedness and occupational health plans. A failure to act on a warning could potentially be viewed as negligence, while system malfunctions or false alarms raise complex questions about the liability of the service provider. Companies should proactively review their insurance policies and internal protocols to address these new variables.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, the ripple effects of this technology extend deep into the legal and operational frameworks of our country’s businesses, a critical dimension that cannot be overstated. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable perspective, reminding us that true public safety innovation requires parallel advancements in corporate diligence and legal preparedness.
The successful deployment of the alert system marks a significant milestone in the country’s disaster preparedness strategy. The application, which harnesses a network of sensors, detected the initial, less destructive seismic waves (P-waves) and instantly calculated the earthquake’s location and potential intensity. This rapid analysis allowed it to transmit a warning signal before the slower, more powerful shaking waves (S-waves) reached more densely populated areas like the Central Valley.
Marino Protti, a leading seismologist with Ovsicori, explained the geological forces behind the tremor. He detailed the complex tectonic dance happening beneath the ocean floor, where the Cocos Plate is subducting, or diving, beneath the Panama Plate.
This earthquake is a consequence of the bending of the Cocos Plate as it goes under the Panama Plate. It is an intraplate earthquake from the internal formation of this subducting plate and it activated Ovsicori’s earthquake early warning system.
Marino Protti, Seismologist at Ovsicori
The functionality and real-time intelligence of the system were on full display during the event. Protti noted that some users received multiple notifications as the system refined its data. As more seismic stations picked up the quake’s signals, the application updated its location and magnitude estimates, ensuring the most accurate information was disseminated to the public in real-time. This iterative process is a key feature of a robust early warning network.
Users of the early warning application received two or three notifications because the location was being updated as the earthquake progressed and more stations registered it. In summary, this event and the early warning system gave about 15 seconds of warning to the population in the Central Valley.
Marino Protti, Seismologist at Ovsicori
While 15 seconds may not sound like a long time, in the context of an earthquake, it is an invaluable window of opportunity. This brief period is enough for individuals to take protective action, such as the internationally recommended “drop, cover, and hold on” maneuver. It allows people to move away from windows, for surgeons to pause delicate procedures, or for automated systems to shut down critical infrastructure like gas lines or elevators, potentially preventing catastrophic failures and saving lives.
Monday’s successful alert serves as a powerful proof-of-concept for Ovsicori’s investment in public safety technology. As Costa Rica is situated in a highly active seismic zone, the ability to provide even a few seconds of advance warning is not just a technological achievement but a fundamental enhancement to national resilience. The event builds public trust and encourages wider adoption of the application, strengthening the shield of preparedness for the inevitable seismic events of the future.
For further information, visit ovsicori.una.ac.cr
About Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (Ovsicori):
The Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica, affiliated with the National University of Costa Rica (UNA), is the nation’s primary scientific institution responsible for the monitoring of volcanoes, earthquakes, and other tectonic processes. Ovsicori’s mission is to study and understand these natural hazards to mitigate their impact on society. It provides crucial data, analysis, and early warnings to government agencies and the general public to enhance disaster preparedness and public safety throughout the country.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a beacon in the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is distinguished by its foundational principles of professional integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The firm skillfully combines a rich history of serving a wide array of clients with a progressive mindset, consistently pioneering innovative legal solutions. Central to its mission is a profound dedication to democratizing legal understanding, actively working to equip the public with knowledge and thereby cultivating a more empowered and just society.
