2019–20 Puerto Rico earthquakes
Starting on December 28, 2019, and progressing into 2020, the southwestern part of the island of Puerto Rico was struck by an earthquake swarm, including 11 that were of magnitude 5 or greater. The largest and most damaging of this sequence was a magnitude 6.4 Mw, which occurred on January 7 at 04:24 AST (08:24 UTC), with a maximum felt intensity of VIII (Severe) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. At least one person was killed, and several others were injured.
Mayagüez San Juan Ponce | |
| UTC time | 2020-01-07 08:24:26 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 617125982 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | January 7, 2020 |
| Local time | 04:24 AST |
| Magnitude | 6.4 Mw |
| Depth | 10 km (6 mi) |
| Epicenter | 17.916°N 66.813°W |
| Fault | Punta Montalva |
| Type | Oblique-slip normal |
| Total damage | $3.1 billion USD |
| Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe) |
| Peak acceleration | 0.52 g |
| Peak velocity | 24.45 cm/s |
| Aftershocks | 7,600~ (M≥2.5, as of January 7 2022) |
| Casualties | 4 dead, 9 injured |
A 5.8 Mw earthquake the previous day caused the destruction of a natural arch, a tourist attraction at Punta Ventana in Guayanilla. A 5.9 Mw aftershock on Saturday, January 11, damaged many structures, including several historical buildings as well as modern high-rises in the city of Ponce.
Power was lost island-wide immediately after the quake and was increasingly restored over a period of a week. Damage to homes was extensive and, by 14 January, more than 8,000 people were homeless and camping outdoors in various types of shelters, with 40,000 others camping outside their homes, just in the city of Ponce alone. There were refugees in 28 government-sponsored refugee centers spread over 14 municipalities of southern and central Puerto Rico. Damage to government structures was calculated in the hundreds of millions and financial losses were estimated in $3.1 billion. A power plant that supplied over a quarter of Puerto Rico's energy needs was badly damaged and was shut down, with repairs estimated to take at least a year.
The day of the main quake, January 7, Puerto Rico governor Wanda Vázquez Garced declared a state of emergency and activated the Puerto Rico National Guard and the Puerto Rico State Guard. That same day, she also made available $130 million in aid to the municipalities affected. The White House also approved $5 million in federal emergency relief. On January 12, the day after the January 11 5.9 aftershock, the governor distributed $12 million to six municipalities most affected by the quake. Tent cities were set up in five of the hardest-hit towns with space for some 3,200 refugees.