3.9

M3.9 Earthquake 131 km N of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin IslandsSeptember 15, 2023

2023-09-15 18:00:46 UTC (2023-09-15) · approx. 2:00 PM UTC-4 local

MagnitudeM3.9(md)
Time18:00 UTC2:00 PM UTC-4
Depth85.0 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates19.522°, -64.728°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 15, 2023 at 18:00 UTC, a magnitude 3.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck 131 km N of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands, at a depth of 85.0 km and coordinates 19.5216°, -64.7276°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 9.3 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 278 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 19.52°, -64.73°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.9 md
Depth
85.0 km
intermediate depth
Location
19.5216°N
-64.7276°E

Technical Information

Event ID
pr2023258003
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
229
Stations Used
12
Azimuthal Gap
331.0°
Min Station Distance
1.191°
RMS Residual
0.11 sec
Last Updated
2023-11-18 22:29:35 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.9 earthquake near Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands?

The magnitude 3.9 earthquake that struck 131 km N of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands on September 15, 2023 at 18:00 UTC had a depth of 85.0 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 3.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.9 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr2023258003). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, September 15, 2023). M3.9 Earthquake 131 km N of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin IslandsSeptember 15, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr2023258003/