3.9

M3.9 Earthquake 123 km N of Suárez, Puerto RicoDecember 4, 2023

2023-12-04 23:58:40 UTC (2023-12-04) · approx. 7:58 PM UTC-4 local

MagnitudeM3.9(md)
Time23:58 UTC7:58 PM UTC-4
Depth11.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates19.544°, -65.759°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 4, 2023 at 23:58 UTC, a magnitude 3.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 123 km N of Suárez, Puerto Rico, at a depth of 11.0 km and coordinates 19.5445°, -65.7593°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 10 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 291 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 19.54°, -65.76°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.9 md
Depth
11.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
19.5445°N
-65.7593°E

Technical Information

Event ID
pr2023338001
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
233
Stations Used
14
Azimuthal Gap
272.0°
Min Station Distance
1.277°
RMS Residual
0.39 sec
Last Updated
2024-02-10 23:47:32 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.9 earthquake near Suárez, Puerto Rico?

The magnitude 3.9 earthquake that struck 123 km N of Suárez, Puerto Rico on December 4, 2023 at 23:58 UTC had a depth of 11.0 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: pr2023338001). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 4, 2023). M3.9 Earthquake 123 km N of Suárez, Puerto RicoDecember 4, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr2023338001/