3.3

M3.3 Earthquake 66 km E of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin IslandsDecember 28, 2023

2023-12-28 18:25:41 UTC (2023-12-28) · approx. 2:25 PM UTC-4 local

MagnitudeM3.3(md)
Time18:25 UTC2:25 PM UTC-4
Depth80.3 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates18.241°, -64.168°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 28, 2023 at 18:25 UTC, a magnitude 3.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck 66 km E of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands, at a depth of 80.3 km and coordinates 18.2408°, -64.1677°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1.2 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 109 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 18.24°, -64.17°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.3 md
Depth
80.3 km
intermediate depth
Location
18.2408°N
-64.1677°E

Technical Information

Event ID
pr71435593
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
165
Stations Used
3
Azimuthal Gap
334.0°
Min Station Distance
0.466°
RMS Residual
0.12 sec
Last Updated
2023-12-28 18:35:43 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.3 earthquake near Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands?

The magnitude 3.3 earthquake that struck 66 km E of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands on December 28, 2023 at 18:25 UTC had a depth of 80.3 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.3 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr71435593). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 28, 2023). M3.3 Earthquake 66 km E of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin IslandsDecember 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr71435593/