3.5

M3.5 Earthquake 78 km E of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin IslandsOctober 16, 2022

2022-10-16 20:43:51 UTC (2022-10-16) · approx. 4:43 PM UTC-4 local

MagnitudeM3.5(md)
Time20:43 UTC4:43 PM UTC-4
Depth44.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates18.341°, -64.049°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 16, 2022 at 20:43 UTC, a magnitude 3.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 78 km E of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands, at a depth of 44.0 km and coordinates 18.3415°, -64.0490°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 2.5 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 152 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 18.34°, -64.05°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.5 md
Depth
44.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
18.3415°N
-64.0490°E

Technical Information

Event ID
pr2022289000
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
186
Stations Used
4
Azimuthal Gap
352.0°
Min Station Distance
0.908°
RMS Residual
0.07 sec
Last Updated
2022-10-16 22:18:14 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands?

The magnitude 3.5 earthquake that struck 78 km E of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands on October 16, 2022 at 20:43 UTC had a depth of 44.0 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 3.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.5 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr2022289000). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, October 16, 2022). M3.5 Earthquake 78 km E of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin IslandsOctober 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr2022289000/