3.5

M3.5 Earthquake 78 km NNE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin IslandsJuly 4, 2026

2026-07-04 18:56:35 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 2:56 PM UTC-4 local

MagnitudeM3.5(md)
Time18:56 UTC2:56 PM UTC-4
Depth20.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates18.929°, -64.389°
Felt by1DYFI response
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On July 4, 2026 at 18:56 UTC, a magnitude 3.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 78 km NNE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands, at a depth of 20.0 km and coordinates 18.9288°, -64.3893°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 3.0 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 164 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 18.93°, -64.39°

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 1 citizen response to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.

USGS DYFI community-reported intensity map for the M3.5 earthquake near 78 km NNE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.5 md
Depth
20.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
18.9288°N
-64.3893°E
Felt Reports
1
DYFI responses
Community Intensity
0.0
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
pr2026185003
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
192
Stations Used
24
Azimuthal Gap
281.0°
Min Station Distance
0.439°
RMS Residual
0.26 sec
Last Updated
2026-07-04 20:02:07 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands?

The magnitude 3.5 earthquake that struck 78 km NNE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands on July 4, 2026 at 18:56 UTC had a depth of 20.0 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 3.5 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: pr2026185003). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 4, 2026). M3.5 Earthquake 78 km NNE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin IslandsJuly 4, 2026. Retrieved July 4, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr2026185003/