December 25, 2003 Earthquake: Puerto Armuelles, Panama-Costa Rica
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Puerto Armuelles, Panama-Costa Rica on December 25, 2003 at 07:11:11 UTC, 33 km below the surface. It killed 2 people.
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
- December 25, 2003
- Time
- 07:11:11 UTC
- Place
- Puerto Armuelles, Panama-Costa Rica
- Magnitude
- 6.5 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 33 km (21 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 8.416° N, 82.824° W
- Country
- Panama
The toll
- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 75
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses damaged
- Many (101 to 1,000)
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 least two people killed, 75
injured and many buildings damaged or destroyed at
Puerto Armuelles, Panama. Some people injured and
damage to buildings and highways in Costa Rica along
the Panama-Costa Rica border. Felt throughout Costa
Rica and in Panama as far east as Panama City. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- April 22, 1991, Limon, Pandora, Panama, Costa Rica
- November 20, 2004, San Jose, Parrita, Quepos, Costa Rica
- April 3, 1983, W, SE, Panama, Costa Rica
- December 5, 1941, Costa Rica-Panama
- July 3, 1983, San Jose, Costa Rica
- July 10, 1993, Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica
- February 4, 2004, Chiriqui, Panama-Costa Rica
- May 26, 2008, Panama-Costa Rica
- July 1, 1979, Puerto Armuelles, Panama-Costa Rica
- August 5, 1854, Costa Rica-Panama
- August 7, 1854, Costa Rica-Panama
- November 19, 2008, Paso Canoa, David, Puerto Armuelles, Panama
- March 12, 1962, Costa Rica-Panama
- July 31, 2002, Laurel, Baru, Alanje, David, Costa Rica, Panama
- July 18, 1934, Panama-Costa Rica
More
Significant earthquakes of 2003The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2003Recent 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 5750.