Although the Virgin Islands hasn’t had an earthquake since Nov. 17, when one with a 3.7 magnitude was recorded at the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, Puerto Rico had five of them Monday. One had a magnitude of 5.2 and another 4.9. The other three ranged from 3.2 to 3.6.
“It’s normal for the area. This is a very active area,” Gisela Baez, a geologist at the Seismic Network, said. There were no reports of damage or injuries.
According to Baez, 300 people reported on the Seismic Network’s website that they felt the 5.2 magnitude earthquake.
She said the five earthquakes that hit between midnight and 3 p.m. were all related. She also said this type of event is common in what is called the 19 Degrees Fault Zone.
The 5.2 magnitude earthquake happened at 6:35 a.m. It was centered at 19.1 degrees north longitude and 66.7 degrees west latitude or 46 miles north northeast of Camuy, Puerto Rico. It occurred at a depth of 9.3 miles.
There was no threat of a tsunami.
As for the Nov. 17 one that was recorded for the Virgin Islands, it happened at 11:53 a.m. The location was 19 degrees north latitude and 64.4 degrees west longitude. This put it 40 miles north of Virgin Gorda. It occurred 14 miles under the sea floor.
In 2010, the Seismic Network recorded 1,681 earthquakes, which was 1, 058 less than in 2009. The strongest in 2010 was 5.7 magnitude, with 5.2 the strongest in 2009.
The Seismic Network records earthquakes for Puerto Rico and nearby islands including the Virgin Islands.
