Feb. 25, 2002 – If you thought you felt an earthquake at 3:30 a.m. Monday, you were right. Another of those minor events beneath the floor of the sea occurred north of Virgin Gorda.
According to the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, the earthquake registered 4 on the Richter Scale. It was centered at 18.6 degrees north latitude and 64.6 degrees west longitude and happened about 26 miles under the Earth's crust.
Small earthquakes in this region are common. "This was typical for the Sombrero seismic zone," said Gisella Baez, chief data analyst at the Mayaguez-based Seismic Network.
In the last week, nine earthquakes have been recorded in this region. On the Richter Scale, there were two 4's, a 3.5, a 3 and the rest ranging from 2.2 to 2.6. So far this month, there have been 41 earthquakes recorded, the biggest a 4.1 on Feb. 13.
In February 2001, 68 earthquakes were recorded in this region. The strongest was a 3.9. Last month, the region saw 87 earthquakes, with the strongest a 4.2. In January 2001, 78 earthquakes were recorded in the region, the largest at 3.8.
Earthquakes that register 4 and above on the scale are the exception in the region; most are smaller, and in many cases no one feels them. Larger tremors causing extensive damage have occurred in the region. There was one that registered 7.3 in 1918. The best known was a major quake in 1867 that caused a tsunami wave that smashed water into the Frederiksted and Charlotte Amalie harbors.
Residents on St. Thomas and St. John reported feeling Monday's earthquake, but no one reported any damage.
