M3.8 Earthquake 142 km NNE of Vieques, Puerto Rico — October 18, 2023
2023-10-18 18:44:58 UTC (2023-10-18) · approx. 2:44 PM UTC-4 local
On October 18, 2023 at 18:44 UTC, a magnitude 3.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 142 km NNE of Vieques, Puerto Rico, at a depth of 39.0 km and coordinates 19.6271°, -65.3433°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 7.8 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 256 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-65.3433°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.8 earthquake near Vieques, Puerto Rico?
The magnitude 3.8 earthquake that struck 142 km NNE of Vieques, Puerto Rico on October 18, 2023 at 18:44 UTC had a depth of 39.0 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.8 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr2023291002). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 18, 2023). M3.8 Earthquake 142 km NNE of Vieques, Puerto Rico — October 18, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr2023291002/