M3.1 Earthquake 16 km SE of Esperanza, Puerto Rico — September 18, 2026
2026-09-18 03:57:04 UTC (3 hours ago) · approx. 11:57 PM UTC-4 local
On September 18, 2026 at 03:57 UTC, a magnitude 3.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 16 km SE of Esperanza, Puerto Rico, at a depth of 9.8 km and coordinates 17.9842°, -65.3753°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 629 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 80 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-65.3753°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.1 earthquake near Esperanza, Puerto Rico?
The magnitude 3.1 earthquake that struck 16 km SE of Esperanza, Puerto Rico on September 18, 2026 at 03:57 UTC had a depth of 9.8 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.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.1 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr71532098). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 18, 2026). M3.1 Earthquake 16 km SE of Esperanza, Puerto Rico — September 18, 2026. Retrieved September 18, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr71532098/