3.6

M3.6 Earthquake 25 km ENE of Punta Cana, Dominican RepublicJanuary 2, 2026

2026-01-02 20:29:37 UTC (2026-01-02) · approx. 3:29 PM UTC-5 local

MagnitudeM3.6(md)
Time20:29 UTC3:29 PM UTC-5
Depth85.0 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates18.663°, -68.180°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On January 2, 2026 at 20:29 UTC, a magnitude 3.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 25 km ENE of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, at a depth of 85.0 km and coordinates 18.6635°, -68.1800°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 3.9 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 187 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 18.66°, -68.18°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.6 md
Depth
85.0 km
intermediate depth
Location
18.6635°N
-68.1800°E

Technical Information

Event ID
pr2026002000
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
200
Stations Used
24
Azimuthal Gap
152.0°
Min Station Distance
0.251°
RMS Residual
0.37 sec
Last Updated
2026-04-07 22:11:51 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.6 earthquake near Punta Cana, Dominican Republic?

The magnitude 3.6 earthquake that struck 25 km ENE of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on January 2, 2026 at 20:29 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 3.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

What should I do after an earthquake?

If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr2026002000). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 2, 2026). M3.6 Earthquake 25 km ENE of Punta Cana, Dominican RepublicJanuary 2, 2026. Retrieved May 14, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr2026002000/