May 7, 1822 Earthquake: Matina, Costa Rica
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Matina, Costa Rica on May 7, 1822. It caused a tsunami.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- May 7, 1822
- Place
- Matina, Costa Rica
- Magnitude
- 7.6 (Ms)
- Intensity
- 7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 9.500° N, 83.000° W
- Country
- Costa Rica
The toll
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses destroyed
- Some (about 51 to 100)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
At Matina, Costa Rica, earthquake shaking lasted almost 24 hours and caused ground cracking. (reference #537)
1822, May 7. 10 N, 84 W. Cartago, Costa Rica destroyed. Felt to San Juan del Nor [Nicaragua]. Bogs drained lagoons formed. (reference #1199)
1822, May 7. 9.5 N, 83 W, magnitude 7.6 Ms. Matina, Costa Rica. (reference #1402, #273, #1574)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 4, 1910, Cartago, San Jose, Costa Rica
- April 22, 1991, Limon, Pandora, Panama, Costa Rica
- December 30, 1952, Costa Rica
- January 8, 2009, La Paz, Costa Rica
- September 1, 1955, Costa Rica
- November 20, 2004, San Jose, Parrita, Quepos, Costa Rica
- December 5, 1941, Costa Rica-Panama
- April 3, 1983, W, SE, Panama, Costa Rica
- July 10, 1993, Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica
- July 3, 1983, San Jose, Costa Rica
- December 25, 2003, Puerto Armuelles, Panama-Costa Rica
- December 22, 1990, Alajuela, Santiago DE Puriscal, Costa Rica
- November 13, 2017, Jaco, Costa Rica
- December 20, 1904, Bocas del Toro, Panama
- May 4, 1991, Changuinola, Almirante, Bocas del Toro, Panama
More
Significant earthquakes of 1822The 1800sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 1661.