M3.3 Earthquake 87 km N of Arecibo, Puerto Rico — August 17, 2023
2023-08-17 20:53:14 UTC (2023-08-17) · approx. 4:53 PM UTC-4 local
On August 17, 2023 at 20:53 UTC, a magnitude 3.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 87 km N of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, at a depth of 18.4 km and coordinates 19.2563°, -66.6055°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1.4 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 118 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-66.6055°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.3 earthquake near Arecibo, Puerto Rico?
The magnitude 3.3 earthquake that struck 87 km N of Arecibo, Puerto Rico on August 17, 2023 at 20:53 UTC had a depth of 18.4 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 3.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.3 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr71421688). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 17, 2023). M3.3 Earthquake 87 km N of Arecibo, Puerto Rico — August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr71421688/