Puerto Rico Earthquakes
M3.34 133 km NNE of Vieques, Puerto Rico
9 hours ago · Depth 12.4 km
Recent Puerto Rico Earthquakes (Past 24 Hours)
- M2.204 km SW of Guánica, Puerto Rico
- M2.142 km N of Indios, Puerto Rico
- M2.233 km SW of Guánica, Puerto Rico
- M3.34133 km NNE of Vieques, Puerto Rico
- M1.825 km SSW of Guánica, Puerto Rico
- M2.144 km SW of Fuig, Puerto Rico
- M1.773 km NNE of La Parguera, Puerto Rico
- M2.7613 km NNE of Carrizales, Puerto Rico
- M2.077 km SSE of Ponce, Puerto Rico
- M2.032 km WSW of Indios, Puerto Rico
Source: USGS
Puerto Rico earthquakes (map loads with JavaScript)
📊 Puerto Rico Earthquake Statistics
133 km NNE of Vieques, Puerto Rico
5 km SW of Guánica, Puerto Rico
5 km SW of Guánica, Puerto Rico
155 km N of Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Magnitude 1.5+ • Data from USGS
🔔 Latest Puerto Rico Earthquakes (M4.0+)
| Mag | Location | Date & Time | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.80 | 5 km SW of Guánica, Puerto Rico | Sep 18, 2026, 1:19 PM UTC | 7.0 km |
Updated: Sep 23, 2026, 4:38 AM UTC
About Earthquakes in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is one of the most earthquake-prone parts of the northeastern Caribbean. Small earthquakes are recorded around the island regularly, particularly offshore to the north, west and south. Most cause no damage, but the region has also experienced powerful earthquakes, long aftershock sequences and destructive tsunamis.
The island lies within a complicated boundary zone between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate. The plates don’t meet along one clean fault. Instead, movement is spread across several trenches, troughs, passages and fault systems surrounding Puerto Rico. This is why earthquake activity can appear in different areas around the island rather than following one obvious line.
The North American and Caribbean plates converge in this region at approximately 20 millimetres per year. That movement sounds slow, but it allows stress to build in the crust over long periods. When part of a fault slips, the stored energy is released as an earthquake.
Where Do Puerto Rico Earthquakes Happen?
Earthquakes can occur beneath Puerto Rico itself, but a great deal of the activity happens offshore. The Puerto Rico Seismic Network divides the surrounding area into named seismic zones so earthquake locations can be described consistently.
- Southwestern Puerto Rico: The waters south and southwest of the island produced the damaging 2019–2020 earthquake sequence. Activity in this area involves a complicated network of normal, strike-slip and oblique faults.
- Puerto Rico Trench: Located north of the island, this deep ocean trench marks an important part of the boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates. Earthquakes occur within and around the descending plate and nearby fault systems.
- Mona Passage and Mona Canyon: The waters between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have produced strong historical earthquakes. The destructive 1918 earthquake occurred northwest of Puerto Rico in this region.
- North of Puerto Rico: Offshore faults and plate-boundary deformation generate earthquakes north of the island. Some large twentieth-century earthquakes occurred in the wider area north of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.
- South of Puerto Rico and the Muertos Trough: Earthquake activity also occurs along structures south of the island, where the Caribbean crust is undergoing compression and deformation.
- Onshore Puerto Rico: Smaller earthquakes can occur beneath the island, although offshore activity accounts for many of the events reported by regional monitoring networks.
The Puerto Rico Seismic Network’s regional map identifies additional areas including western, southern, northern and central Puerto Rico, the 19° North Fault Zone, Mona Canyon and the Puerto Rico Trench.
Why Is Puerto Rico So Seismically Active?
Puerto Rico sits near the northeastern corner of the Caribbean Plate. To the north, the North American Plate bends and descends beneath the region. To the west, movement is distributed through the Mona Passage and related faults. South of the island, the Muertos Trough forms another zone of deformation.
This produces more than one type of earthquake. Some events involve compression, while others happen as the crust stretches or slides sideways. An earthquake’s faulting style depends on which structure moves and how stress is being released in that part of the plate boundary.
The magnitude, depth and location of each event all affect how it feels. A shallow earthquake close to the coast can produce stronger local shaking than a deeper event of a similar size farther offshore. You can learn more about the numbers reported for each event in our guide to the earthquake magnitude scale.
The 2019–2020 Southwestern Puerto Rico Earthquake Sequence
Puerto Rico’s most important recent earthquake sequence began offshore of the southwestern coast on December 28, 2019. It started with a magnitude 4.7 earthquake and was followed by repeated earthquakes that were strong enough to be felt across the region.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck south of Indios on January 6, 2020. The following day, a shallow magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurred in the same general area. It caused extensive damage in southwestern Puerto Rico, including collapsed and badly damaged buildings, power failures and ground failure.
The sequence didn’t end with the magnitude 6.4 earthquake. Numerous aftershocks followed, including several events above magnitude 5. USGS research later showed that the sequence involved intersecting zones of normal, strike-slip and oblique faulting rather than one simple fault rupture.
Field investigations documented landslides, rockfalls, ground cracks, liquefaction and lateral spreading. The sequence was particularly difficult for residents because noticeable earthquakes continued after the mainshock, creating ongoing uncertainty and causing further damage to already weakened structures.
Read the USGS summary of the magnitude 6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake and its aftershocks.
The 1918 Puerto Rico Earthquake and Tsunami
One of the most destructive earthquakes in Puerto Rico’s recorded history occurred on October 11, 1918. Its estimated magnitude is generally placed between 7.3 and 7.5, and its epicentre was northwest of the island in the Mona Passage or Mona Canyon region.
The earthquake caused severe shaking in western Puerto Rico, damaging homes, bridges, factories and other buildings. It also generated a tsunami that reached the west coast within minutes. Waves reportedly reached approximately 20 feet in parts of northwestern Puerto Rico.
The Puerto Rico Seismic Network reports that 116 people died, including 40 killed by the tsunami. The event remains an important reminder that Puerto Rico faces both earthquake and tsunami hazards.
Scientists have continued studying how the 1918 tsunami was generated. Earlier research suggested that an earthquake-triggered submarine landslide was the main source, but newer seafloor evidence indicates that the identified landslide was much older. A rupture along normal faults in the Mona Rift is now being considered as a possible source. This is a good example of how scientific explanations can change as better seafloor images and geological evidence become available.
The Puerto Rico Seismic Network’s 1918 earthquake account includes details about the shaking, damage and tsunami.
Other Significant Puerto Rico Earthquakes
The 1918 and 2020 earthquakes are the best-known events, but they aren’t the only strong earthquakes to affect Puerto Rico.
- 1787 earthquake: Historical accounts describe a powerful earthquake that caused damage in Puerto Rico. Its exact magnitude and source remain uncertain because it occurred long before modern instruments.
- 1867 Virgin Islands earthquake and tsunami: A major earthquake east of Puerto Rico generated a destructive tsunami in the Virgin Islands. Shaking and sea-level changes were also observed around Puerto Rico.
- 1918 Mona Passage earthquake: Estimated at magnitude 7.3–7.5, this earthquake and its tsunami caused severe damage and loss of life, particularly in western Puerto Rico.
- 1943 earthquake north of Puerto Rico: A major offshore earthquake, usually listed around magnitude 7.5, was felt in northwestern Puerto Rico.
- 1981 Mona Passage earthquake: A magnitude 5.7 earthquake was felt across Puerto Rico and nearby islands and caused minor damage around Guayanilla.
- 2020 southwestern Puerto Rico earthquake: The magnitude 6.4 mainshock and its prolonged sequence caused serious damage and renewed public awareness of the island’s earthquake risk.
The Puerto Rico Seismic Network’s significant-earthquake history contains more information about earthquakes reported around the island.
Can Puerto Rico Earthquakes Cause Tsunamis?
Yes. Puerto Rico is surrounded by active offshore faults, steep underwater slopes and deep ocean features capable of producing tsunamis. A tsunami can be generated when an earthquake suddenly displaces the seafloor. Underwater landslides and volcanic activity elsewhere in the Caribbean can also generate tsunami waves.
Not every offshore earthquake produces a tsunami. The earthquake normally needs to be large enough and involve the right kind of seafloor movement. However, Puerto Rico’s 1918 history means strong or prolonged coastal shaking should always be taken seriously.
If you’re near the coast and feel strong shaking, shaking that lasts a long time, or notice the sea suddenly receding or behaving unusually, move inland or to higher ground as soon as the shaking stops. Don’t wait beside the water for an official alert or return to the coast until local authorities say it’s safe.
Coastal evacuation maps and current tsunami information are available through the Puerto Rico Seismic Network.
Earthquake Hazards in Puerto Rico
Ground shaking is the main hazard, but an earthquake can create several problems at once. The damage experienced in 2020 showed how local geology, building condition and repeated aftershocks can affect communities.
- Building damage: Strong shaking can damage or collapse vulnerable buildings, particularly structures with weak columns, unreinforced masonry or existing deterioration.
- Aftershocks: A larger earthquake can be followed by many smaller events. Some aftershocks can still be strong enough to cause additional damage.
- Landslides and rockfalls: Puerto Rico’s steep hills and mountain roads can be affected by slope failures during strong shaking.
- Liquefaction and lateral spreading: Loose, water-saturated ground can lose strength, crack or shift sideways, particularly in coastal and low-lying areas.
- Power and water disruption: Earthquakes can damage power plants, substations, water systems, roads and communications infrastructure.
- Tsunamis: Strong offshore earthquakes can produce dangerous waves that reach nearby coastlines quickly.
How Puerto Rico Earthquakes Are Monitored
The Puerto Rico Seismic Network, based at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, monitors earthquakes across Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the surrounding northeastern Caribbean. Its instruments help locate earthquakes, calculate magnitudes, issue reports and support tsunami monitoring.
The network works with the USGS and the Puerto Rico Strong Motion Program. After the 2020 earthquake sequence began, additional seismic instruments were installed in southwestern Puerto Rico to improve monitoring and provide more detailed information about the continuing activity.
The live map and statistics on this page use USGS earthquake data and include events of magnitude 1.5 and above that match the Puerto Rico boundaries and filters configured for this page. Counts and lists update when the page loads or refreshes.
What to Do During an Earthquake
If you feel shaking, Drop, Cover and Hold On. Drop to your hands and knees, take cover beneath a sturdy table or desk if one is nearby, and hold on until the shaking stops. If there’s no suitable shelter close to you, protect your head and neck and move away from windows and objects that could fall.
Don’t run outside while the ground is moving. Glass, masonry, signs and other materials can fall around building entrances. When the shaking stops, check for injuries and hazards, expect aftershocks and follow instructions from local emergency authorities.
If you’re on the coast and the earthquake is strong or lasts a long time, move inland or to higher ground after the shaking stops. For more advice, see our earthquake safety guide and earthquake preparedness checklist.
Related Earthquake Maps
View the surrounding region:
Caribbean Earthquakes | North America Earthquakes
View more current activity:
Recent Earthquakes Worldwide | United States Earthquakes
Current earthquake data shown on this page comes from the U.S. Geological Survey. Regional monitoring and historical information are also available from the Puerto Rico Seismic Network.