M3.0 Earthquake 3 km SW of La Parguera, Puerto Rico — December 31, 2023
2023-12-31 19:36:48 UTC (2023-12-31) · approx. 3:36 PM UTC-4 local
On December 31, 2023 at 19:36 UTC, a magnitude 3.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 3 km SW of La Parguera, Puerto Rico, at a depth of 7.0 km and coordinates 17.9552°, -67.0740°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 511 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 73 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Earthquake Details
-67.0740°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.0 earthquake near La Parguera, Puerto Rico?
The magnitude 3.0 earthquake that struck 3 km SW of La Parguera, Puerto Rico on December 31, 2023 at 19:36 UTC had a depth of 7.0 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 3.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.0 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr71435933). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 31, 2023). M3.0 Earthquake 3 km SW of La Parguera, Puerto Rico — December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr71435933/