M3.1 Earthquake 116 km NNE of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic — May 17, 2026
2026-05-17 23:09:54 UTC (2026-05-17) · approx. 6:09 PM UTC-5 local
On May 17, 2026 at 23:09 UTC, a magnitude 3.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 116 km NNE of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, at a depth of 22.1 km and coordinates 19.5430°, -67.9507°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 722 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 86 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-67.9507°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.1 earthquake near Punta Cana, Dominican Republic?
The magnitude 3.1 earthquake that struck 116 km NNE of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on May 17, 2026 at 23:09 UTC had a depth of 22.1 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 3.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.1 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr71516943). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 17, 2026). M3.1 Earthquake 116 km NNE of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic — May 17, 2026. Retrieved July 25, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr71516943/