Live seismic activity in Puerto Rico — updated every 60 seconds from USGS data. Puerto Rico is highly seismically active, located on the boundary of the Caribbean and North American plates with a complex subduction zone.
Puerto Rico is highly seismically active, located on the boundary of the Caribbean and North American plates. The 1918 Mona Passage earthquake (M7.1) generated a tsunami that killed over 100 people. More recently, the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquakes (M6.4) caused widespread damage across the southern part of the island. Major faults include the Puerto Rico Trench subduction interface, the Mona Passage fault zone, and the Punta Montalva fault. Notable quakes include 1918 Mona Passage (M7.1), 2020 M6.4 series, 1943 M7.5. The seismic risk is high. Tectonically, Puerto Rico lies on the Caribbean Plate, with the North American Plate subducting to the north, plus active strike-slip and thrust faults. This page provides real‑time USGS data and historical context for Puerto Rico.
The region is defined by Puerto Rico Trench, Mona Passage fault zone, Punta Montalva fault, and the risk level is classified as High. With a population of 3.2 million, understanding local seismic hazards is crucial.
Puerto Rico lies on Caribbean Plate with North American Plate subducting northward. The movement of these plates builds up stress, which is released as earthquakes. In subduction zones, one plate dives beneath another, generating some of the largest quakes on Earth. In some regions, strike‑slip faults produce frequent moderate earthquakes.
The strongest recorded earthquake in Puerto Rico was the 1918 Mona Passage earthquake (M7.1). 1918 Mona Passage (M7.1)
Puerto Rico experiences approximately 200-500 earthquakes per year, with 20-50 felt (M3.0+) and 2-5 potentially damaging events (M5.0+) annually, according to USGS historical data.
The most recent major earthquake in Puerto Rico was the 1918 Mona Passage earthquake (M7.1). 1918 Mona Passage (M7.1)
Yes. Puerto Rico is crossed by Puerto Rico Trench, Mona Passage fault zone, Punta Montalva fault, making it prone to seismic activity. The seismic risk level is classified as High.
Drop, cover, and hold on. Stay away from windows, and if outdoors, move to an open area. After the shaking stops, check for injuries and be ready for aftershocks. Prepare an emergency kit with water, food, first aid, and a flashlight.
Data sources: USGS real‑time feed, USGS historical archive, and Wikipedia. Page refreshes live earthquake data every 60 seconds.