Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands lie at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates, making these territories prone to earthquakes. This is a highly active seismic region both surrounded and traversed by numerous faults; to the north, the North American plate subducts beneath the Caribbean plate, while a number of strike-slip faults cross the main island of Puerto Rico diagonally from southeast to northwest. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are also located on a microplate that is continuously being deformed by the subduction zone to the north. Puerto Rico is constantly at risk of experiencing major earthquakes, greater than 7.0.

History

The region has been seismically active since ancient times. The Great Northern and Great Southern fault zones that cross the main island of Puerto Rico laterally have been active since the Eocene epoch. Earthquakes in the region have been recorded since the early 17th century and some of the first seismic activity in the Americas were recorded first in Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. One of the first recorded earthquakes in the region was on September 8, 1615, which originated in the Dominican Republic region and caused damage throughout the island. Earthquakes have been studied and recorded in Puerto Rico since the 20th century. The Puerto Rico Seismic Network (Red Sísmica de Puerto Rico or RSPR), which is contained within the department of Geology of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, was established in 1974 by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the former Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). It was established with the goal evaluating seismic features for the purpose of building nuclear power plants in the region. Its mission today is to detect, process and study seismic activity within the Puerto Rico region. The RSPR operates 25 seismometers throughout Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. Two of these seismometers are owned by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

On average, there are about 5 earthquakes recorded per day and about 3 earthquakes with magnitude 5.0 higher recorded per year in the region. Given that most of the active faults are located at sea, most earthquakes in the region do not cause loss of life or significant damage, and significant destructive earthquakes that occur in Puerto Rico are rare. Most large earthquakes have historically occurred at sea which makes the area susceptible to destructive tsunamis. The last tsunami to cause significant damage in Puerto Rico was on October 11, 1918, which was generated by the 1918 Aguadilla earthquake. There have been more recent tsunami events, such as in 1946, which did not cause significant damage to the island. The last earthquakes to cause loss of life were the 2020 southwestern Puerto Rico sequence of earthquakes which caused 4 deaths. The last earthquake to cause significant damage and loss of life in the Virgin Islands occurred in 1867; this earthquake generated a tsunami that affected the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Notable earthquakes in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands DateNameAreaMMIDeathsInjuriesTotal damage / notes1615-09-08HispaniolaDominican Republic 7.5 – – –One of the oldest recorded earthquakes in the Puerto Rico and Caribbean region. It affected Hispaniola and caused damage in Puerto Rico.1670-08-15Puerto RicoPuerto Rico – – – –Unknown epicenter, it caused damage in San Juan and San Germán, at the time the largest settlements in Puerto Rico.1717-08-30Puerto RicoPuerto Rico –VII – –Unknown epicenter, it destroyed Ponce's cathedral. The fact that it did not cause significant damage in Yauco, San Germán and Lajas suggests it was a small event localized close to Ponce.1787-05-02Puerto RicoPuerto Rico Trench*8.0–8.2 – –Possibly the strongest earthquake to have hit Puerto Rico since the European colonization. It was strongly felt throughout the island and major damage was reported everywhere except for in the south (although there were minor damage in colonial buildings in Ponce). It destroyed several government buildings, parts of El Morro and other fortifications and walls in San Juan, the cathedral and colonial buildings in Arecibo, and historical buildings in Bayamón, Mayagüez and Toa Baja. *Contemporary research bestows the possibility that it was not a single 8.0 event but multiple earthquakes ranging from 6.4 to 7.3 .1844-04-16Puerto RicoPuerto Rico Trench –VIII – –Major damage was recorded in Puerto Rico and Saint Thomas. It damaged most houses in San Juan.1851-02-22San JuanPuerto Rico Trench – – – –It caused damage in San Juan's city hall.1855-12-14SalinasPuerto Rico –VI – –Said to be the strongest earthquake to have hit Salinas since the town's founding where it caused minor localized damage. It was also felt in Aguas Buenas.1860-10-23MayagüezPuerto Rico –VII – –Felt strongly in Mayagüez where it caused damage.1865-05-12Saint ThomasVirgin Islands – – – –Strong doublet earthquakes that hit the Virgin Islands and caused damage in Saint Thomas.1865-08-30Puerto RicoPuerto Rico –VI – –Its epicenter was most likely located deep on land in the Central Mountain Ranges region of Puerto Rico. It caused damage in Ponce and Manatí.1867-11-18Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands7.5 Ms40+ –It produced a tsunami that affected the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.1868-03-17Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands6.5 Ms – – –1874-08-26Puerto RicoPuerto Rico Trench –VI – –It destroyed several houses and buildings in San Juan.1875-12-08AreciboPuerto Rico Trench –VIII – –It caused significant damage in Arecibo and was strongly felt in Ponce.1890-08-15Puerto RicoPuerto Rico – – – –It was felt throughout the island and caused damage in Arecibo and Ponce.1902-05-13Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands –VI – –Felt strongly in Saint Thomas.1906-09-27Puerto RicoPuerto Rico –VI – –Felt strongly throughout Puerto Rico and as far as the Dominican Republic and Saint Thomas. Only damage in San Juan was reported, where it caused fissures in the cathedral walls.1906-10-20Puerto RicoPuerto Rico –VI – –Felt throughout the island. Possibly an aftershock to the September 27 event.1908-08-04Puerto RicoPuerto Rico –VI – –Doublet earthquakes felt throughout Puerto Rico. Damage was reported in Arecibo, Ponce, San Germán and Yauco.1909-02-17Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands –VI – –Felt in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Minor damage reported in Culebra and Saint Thomas.1915-10-11Puerto RicoPuerto Rico6.4 MwVI––Felt strongly in northwestern Puerto Rico, particularly Aguadilla and Isabela, but no major damage or injuries reported.1917-07-27QuebradillasPuerto Rico6.0 Mw–––1918-10-11Puerto RicoMona Passage7.1 Mw118 –$4–29 million USD in damage. Damage and injuries were reported throughout the island. Several aftershocks were registered after the main shock, particularly a 6.5 aftershock that occurred the following year. Aftershocks are not included on this list.1920-02-10AguadillaMona Passage6.4 MwVI – –Felt throughout Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic but no deaths or injuries were reported. 1943-07-29Puerto RicoMona Passage7.7 MwVI – –It was felt throughout Puerto Rico but no deaths or injuries were reported. Detected on seismographs in New York, Boston and as far as Europe. Minor damages were reported across the island. Numerous aftershocks, including two large ones over 6.0 Mw occurred the following dates, not included on this list.1946-08-04Dominican RepublicDominican Republic8.1 Ms*2,550 –Large earthquake centered in the Samaná Peninsula of the Dominican Republic. *All deaths occurred in the Dominican Republic. No deaths or injuries was reported in Puerto Rico. Localized damaged was however reported throughout the island. A small tsunami was recorded in Mayagüez, Aguadilla and as far away in San Juan and even Daytona Beach, FL and Atlantic City, NJ. This is the largest earthquake to have hit the Caribbean region in the 20th century. It was followed by numerous aftershocks, the largest being 7.4 registered 4 days after the main shock.1966-11-03Punta CanaMona Passage6.0 Mw – – –Felt in northwestern Puerto Rico.1970-07-08Saint CroixVirgin Islands6.1 MwIV – –Felt across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Minor damages in St. Thomas and St. Croix.1979-03-23Dominican RepublicMona Passage6.1 MwVI – –Felt throughout the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico, and even as far away as Colombia.1981-08-24Puerto RicoMona Passage5.7 Mw – – –Felt throughout the island. Minor damage in Guayanilla.1988-11-03QuebradillasPuerto Rico Trench6.0 MwIV – –Felt across Puerto Rico. No damages or injuries reported.2001-10-17Charlotte AmalieVirgin Islands6.0 MwIV – –Earthquake swarm.2008-10-11Charlotte AmalieVirgin Islands6.1 MwV – –Felt in Puerto Rico, the US and British Virgin Islands.2010-05-16MocaPuerto Rico5.8 MwVI – –Felt throughout Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and the US and British Islands. It is colloquially known as the 2010 Moca earthquake. It caused minor damage in the western and northwestern regions of Puerto Rico, and a minor landslide that affected a portion of PR-111. It is the largest Puerto Rican earthquake to have occurred on land in recent times.2010-12-24Aguas BuenasPuerto Rico5.1 MwV – –Felt throughout Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. It is colloquially known as the 2010 Aguas Buenas earthquake or the "2010 Nochebuena earthquake" (2010 Christmas Eve earthquake). It caused minor damage throughout the island and localized power outages throughout the Caguas and San Juan regions. It is the largest earthquake to directly hit the San Juan Metropolitan region in recent times.2011-12-17RincónPuerto Rico5.2 MwVI – –Doublet earthquakes (5.2 and 5.1).2014-01-13HatilloPuerto Rico Trench6.4 MwV – –Felt throughout Puerto Rico.2019-03-12GuayamaPuerto Rico4.6 MwV – 1Felt throughout Puerto Rico. Localized minor damage in Guayama. It was followed by several aftershocks including a 4.1 which was the largest.2019-09-24QuebradillasMona Passage6.0 MwV – –Felt throughout Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. It produced several aftershocks of which the September 26 one was the largest (5.1) and also resulted in minor localized damage.2019-12-28GuánicaPuerto Rico4.7 MwV – –First notable temblor in the earthquake swarm sequence of shocks that affected the southwestern portion of Puerto Rico from December 2019 throughout 2020.2020-01-06GuayanillaPuerto Rico5.8 MwVI––Foreshock of the January 7th earthquake, destroyed Punta Ventana and greatly affected Guayanilla causing significant damage there and in nearby municipalities.2020-01-07GuayanillaPuerto Rico6.4 MwVIII49Strongest in the earthquake swarm sequence of shocks that affected the southwestern portion of Puerto Rico from December 2019 throughout 2020. It caused significant damage and power outages throughout the island. Fourteen aftershocks above 5.0 Mw, not included on this list.2023-04-09GuánicaPuerto Rico4.5 MwV––Strong aftershock of the 2019–2020 sequence, felt strongly throughout Puerto Rico.2023-12-09Cruz BayVirgin Islands5.7 MwV––Felt throughout the British and U.S. Virgin Islands and eastern Puerto Rico.2024-05-15AguadillaPuerto Rico Trench5.6 MwV––Felt widely throughout Puerto Rico and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.2025-02-25Punta CanaDominican Republic5.9 MwVI––Felt strongly in the Dominican Republic and western Puerto Rico. Reports of minor damage in Punta Cana and the western Dominican Republic.2025-05-04Cruz BayVirgin Islands5.6 MwV––Felt throughout the British and U.S. Virgin Islands and eastern Puerto Rico.2025-06-24Punta CanaDominican Republic5.7 MwVI––Felt widely throughout the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Minor damage reported in Moca and Lares in western Puerto Rico.2025-08-05Dominican RepublicDominican Republic5.7 MwVI––Felt widely through the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.2026-09-18GuánicaPuerto Rico4.8 MwVI––Felt throughout southwestern Puerto Rico. Hairline cracks reported in Guánica and Lajas.

See also