3.0

M3.0 Earthquake 54 km N of Isabela, Puerto Rico — December 23, 2020

2020-12-23 21:20:06 UTC (2020-12-23) · approx. 5:20 PM UTC-4 local

MagnitudeM3.0(md)
Time21:20 UTC≈ 5:20 PM UTC-4
Depth6.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates18.995°, -66.972°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 23, 2020 at 21:20 UTC, a magnitude 3.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 54 km N of Isabela, Puerto Rico, at a depth of 6.0 km and coordinates 18.9950°, -66.9723°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 529 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 74 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 19.00°, -66.97°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.0 md
Depth
6.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
18.9950°N
-66.9723°E

Technical Information

Event ID
pr2020358020
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
141
Stations Used
8
Azimuthal Gap
304.0°
Min Station Distance
0.545°
RMS Residual
0.17 sec
Last Updated
2020-12-23 22:04:21 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.0 earthquake near Isabela, Puerto Rico?

The magnitude 3.0 earthquake that struck 54 km N of Isabela, Puerto Rico on December 23, 2020 at 21:20 UTC had a depth of 6.0 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 3.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.0 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr2020358020). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 23, 2020). M3.0 Earthquake 54 km N of Isabela, Puerto Rico — December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr2020358020/