3.8

M3.8 Earthquake 53 km SE of Punta Cana, Dominican RepublicOctober 15, 2023

2023-10-15 23:42:35 UTC (2023-10-15) · approx. 6:42 PM UTC-5 local

MagnitudeM3.8(md)
Time23:42 UTC6:42 PM UTC-5
Depth89.0 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates18.303°, -67.991°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 15, 2023 at 23:42 UTC, a magnitude 3.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck 53 km SE of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, at a depth of 89.0 km and coordinates 18.3031°, -67.9906°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 6.6 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 237 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 18.30°, -67.99°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.8 md
Depth
89.0 km
intermediate depth
Location
18.3031°N
-67.9906°E

Technical Information

Event ID
pr2023288001
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
218
Stations Used
14
Azimuthal Gap
140.0°
Min Station Distance
0.234°
RMS Residual
0.24 sec
Last Updated
2023-12-26 21:24:21 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.8 earthquake near Punta Cana, Dominican Republic?

The magnitude 3.8 earthquake that struck 53 km SE of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on October 15, 2023 at 23:42 UTC had a depth of 89.0 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 3.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.8 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr2023288001). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 15, 2023). M3.8 Earthquake 53 km SE of Punta Cana, Dominican RepublicOctober 15, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr2023288001/