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A total of 510 events were located in the local zone by the PRSN for
1987. Only one event was reported as felt: the May 30th earthquake which
ocurred 11:55 a.m. local time, and reached a 4.6 in the magnitude scale.
Based on reports received, this event was given an intensity of VI in the
Modified Mercalli Scale (MM), and some damages were observed in the Boqueron
sector, near the epicenter. |
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645 earthquakes ocurred in the local zone in 1988. Five events were
felt this year, the strongest being the November 3rd event at 03:42 P.M.
local time, and reached 5.2 in the magnitude scale. It was felt in the
Dominican Republic and throughout Puerto Rico, with a maximum intensity
of IV in the Modified Mercalli Scale (MM) for the western area of the island.
The USGS reported a magnitude of 5.7, and minor damage in western Puerto
Rico and Cataño. |
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The PRSN located 561 earthquakes for the local area in 1989. 13 felt
events were reported for this year. The largest ocurred on March 2nd at
3:14 A.M. local time with a magnitude of 5.0, but was felt lightly, reaching
only two in the intensity scale (MM). The strongest felt events were the
April 11th event at 07:07 P.M., with a magnitude of 4.1; and the April
27th event at 02:32 A.M, that reached magnitude of 4.3. Both events were
given an intensity V in the Modified Mercalli Scale (MM). |
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During 1990 there were 314 local earthquakes registered by the network.
The largest concentration of earthquakes occurred to the northeast of the
island. The seismic network processed 322 teleseismic and 72 regional events. |
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During 1991 there were 364 local earthquakes registered by the network.
The largest concentration of earthquakes occurred on a north-south belt
from the Puerto Rico trench to southern Puerto Rico along longitude 67
W. The seismic network processed 300 teleseismic and 106 regional events. |
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The PRSN located 678 earthquakes in the Puerto Rico region during 1992.
Although the amount of earthquakes located greatly exceeds the earthquakes
located for the previous years, they occurred in the areas where historically
the greatest seismic activity has taken place and can be related to the
oblique subduction of the North American plate under the Caribbean plate.
Only 4 of these earthquakes were felt in the region. |
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The PRSN located 787 earthquakes in the PR region. Seven events were
felt, the largest of these being one of magnitude 5.0 which occurred in
the Muertos Trough southeast of the island. The Network also processed
127 regional and 248 teleseismic earthquakes. |
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The PRSN located 816 events in the PR region. Twelve were felt, the
largest one occurred September 22 and had a magnitude 5.0. Nevertheless,
the one felt strongest occurred September 12 in Boqueron, southwestern
PR where it had a maximum intensity of V. |
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The PRSN located 644 earthquakes in the Puerto Rico region. Seventeen
of these earthquakes were felt; of these, eight were located in southwestern
Puerto Rico. The largest felt event had a magnitude of 4.6 and it's epicenter
was located 80 Km north of Isabela, just east of the mouth of the Mona
canyon. No earthquake was reported to have caused damage, six of the felt
events had maximum intensities between IV-V (Mercalli Modified Scale).
The Puerto Rico Seismic Network also processed 149 regional earthquakes
and 348 teleseismic earthquakes. |
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The PRSN located 721 earthquakes in the Puerto Rico region for 1996.
Fifteen of these earthquakes were felt, of these, six were located in southwestern
Puerto Rico. The largest felt event occurred May 10 and had a magnitude
of 5.1. The event which was felt the strongest (V MM) was located in Cabo
Rojo. The PRSN also processed 114 regional earthquakes and 418 teleseismic
events. |
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The PRSN located 469 earthquakes in the Puerto Rico region for 1997.
Of these events, only six were reported to have been felt, the largest
of which occurred March 31 and had a magnitude of 4.7 and was located in
the Eastern Dominican Republic. The earthquake which was felt the strongest
took place on July 31 at 10:35 AM and had an intensity of IV on the Mercalli
Modified Scale and was located just north of Arecibo. The PRSN also processed
130 regional earthquakes and 307 teleseismic events |
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The PRSN located 622 earthquakes during 1998. There was a greater cumulate
of earthquakes north of the Virgin Islands in the Sombrero Seismic Zone,
to the north of Puerto Rico, south of Vieques and within the island, in
the south. Thirteen of the earthquakes were felt, the one of largest magnitude
(5.6) occurred December 7 and was located just south of Anegada, while
the earthquake which was felt strongest (MM=V) occurred just offshore of
Manatí on August 28 and had a magnitude of 4.4. |
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Five hundred and eighty six earthquakes were located by the PRSN in
1999. The month of highest seismic activity was November, with a total
of 65 events; and the month of lowest seismicity was April, with 37 earthquakes.
Nineteen felt events were reported this year. Two of them (February 27th
and March 7th) had a magnitude of 4.7, the highest for the year. The strongest
felt event was the January 18th earthquake, with a maximum intensity of
V on the Modified Mercalli Scale. The seismicity for the Puerto Rico region
during 1999 was distributed rather evenly, with a slightly higher concentration
of events on the on the northern, eastern and western portions of this
area. Inland, the southwestern part of the island showed the highest seismic
activity. |
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During year 2000, 735 events were located representing an increase
of 20.2% in relation to the previous year (586 earthquakes in 1999). The
month of greatest activity was May with 51 events. Of these, only 2.3%
were reported as felt. The earthquake on December 11, was the event of
greatest magnitude (4.9 Richter Scale) and intensity (IV Modified Mercalli
Scale). The seismicity in the region is quite scattered, although with
a greater concentration in the Island and towards the north, east and west
of the local region. Within the Island, the most active region is to the
south of an imaginary line that extends itself from Rincón to Guayama. |
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During the year 2001, 967 seismic events were reported, representing an
increase of 30% relative to last year (741 events for 2001). The month with the
greatest amount of activity was October with a total of 204 events, while the month
with least activity was June with only 51 events. Out of the total seismicity for
this year, only a 2% was reported as felt (a total of 20 events). The earthquake
of October 17 was the event of highest magnitude (5.2 on the Richter scale) and
the most intense (V on the Modified Mercalli scale). The areas with the highest
concentration of seismicity were the Sombrero seismic zone, the area north of Culebra
and Virgin Islands, and the southwest region of Puerto Rico. 54.6% of the total
energy released during this year was released during October on the seismic swarm
event at the Sombrero seismic zone. |
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During the 2002 PRSN located 967 earthquakes, equal amount of earthquakes that in the previous year. Of the total seismicity, only 22 earthquakes (2.2%) were reported like felt. The month of greater seismic activity was March with a total of 98 earthquakes, and the one with smaller activity was February with 61 earthquakes. The earthquake of greater magnitude (4.7 in the Richter Scale) happened the 13 of November at 16:27:49, this was felt in the Virgin Islands and all Puerto Rico. This earthquake was located to 35 kms to the Northeast of Anegada, in the latitude 18.97° N and the longitude 64.17°W, with a depth of 25.6 kms and a maximum intensity of IV (Modified Mercalli Scale) in Anegada. The earthquake of greater intensity (V in Modified the Mercalli Scale, the central area and east of the island) happened the 20 of June at 11:24:24, this was felt in almost all the island of Puerto Rico. This earthquake was located in the municipality of Naranjito, the latitude 18.244° N and the longitude 66.286°W, with a depth of 6.2 kms and a magnitude of 4.0 in the Richter Scale. The greater reported seismic activity as felt during this year was concentrated in the Virgin Islands and the Seismic Zone of the Sombrero, although the month with more felt earthquakes was June. The concentration of seismicity for this year widely was distributed in all the Region of Puerto Rico, nevertheless a greater concentration of earthquakes in the Seismic Zone of the Sombrero and in the southwestern area of the Island exists. During this year the months where happened a greater liberation of energy were October and November. |
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During 2003 the RSPR located 947 tremors, which represents a decrease of
2.07% compared to the previous year (2002, 967 tremors). This seismic
activity is considered normal assuming an average of 2 ± 1 tremors daily.
Like the previous year, the month with the most activity was March with a
total of 115 tremors (2002, 98 tremors), while the lowest was January with
only 51. Of all the seismic activity, only 26 tremors (27%) were reported
as felt. Of these 26, 2 tremors (May 14 and September 22) were generated
outside of the RSPR, and were localised by the NEIC/USGS. The tremor of
the greatest magnitude (6.5 on the Richter scale) occurred on the 22nd of
September at 00:45:50 (local time). This tremor was felt throughout the
entire Dominican Republic and in Puerto Rico. It was located 15Kms
northeast of Puerto Plata and approximately 410Kms northeast of Mayaguez,
at latitude of 19.847° N and a longitude of 70.666° E, with a depth of
10.0 Kms. The maximum intensity was at VII (Modified Mercalli Scale) in
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (RD) and V in Puerto Rico (PR). The
majority of reported seismic activity this year centre in the Southeast
region of Puerto Rico, with a total of 9 tremors, followed by the Virgin
Islands platform, which registered 7. The month with the most tremors was
March, with a total of 9. |
