M3.1 Earthquake 5 km E of La Parguera, Puerto Rico — December 15, 2020
2020-12-15 19:31:16 UTC (2020-12-15) · approx. 3:31 PM UTC-4 local
On December 15, 2020 at 19:31 UTC, a magnitude 3.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 5 km E of La Parguera, Puerto Rico, at a depth of 13.0 km and coordinates 17.9673°, -66.9936°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 83 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-66.9936°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.1 earthquake near La Parguera, Puerto Rico?
The magnitude 3.1 earthquake that struck 5 km E of La Parguera, Puerto Rico on December 15, 2020 at 19:31 UTC had a depth of 13.0 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.1 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr2020350020). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 15, 2020). M3.1 Earthquake 5 km E of La Parguera, Puerto Rico — December 15, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr2020350020/