USGS · August 19, 2026
Magnitude 2.9 earthquake — 7 km NNE of Brenas, Puerto Rico
A magnitude 2.9 earthquake was recorded near 7 km NNE of Brenas, Puerto Rico on Aug 19, 2026, 07:16 AM (local time at the epicentre — AST, UTC-4), at a depth of about 75.1 km, according to USGS.
USGSIntermediate (70–300 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-04 18:46 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 2.9 · duration magnitude
- Location
- 7 km NNE of Brenas, Puerto Rico
- Local time at the epicentre
- Aug 19, 2026, 07:16 AM — AST, UTC-4
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-08-19 11:16 UTC
- Depth
- 75.1 km · Intermediate (70–300 km)
- Coordinates
- 18.531, -66.317
- Felt reports
- No “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 131 / 1000 · routine event
- Solution quality
- 20 seismic stations used · 191° azimuthal gap (less well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
No intensity estimate was published for this event, which is usual for small earthquakes far from populated areas.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
About 987,727 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 2,308,361 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Brenas | 7.6 km SSW | 2,104 |
| Sabana | 9.0 km SSW | 1,946 |
| San Antonio | 9.3 km S | 6,456 |
| Dorado | 9.6 km SSE | 13,117 |
| Ceiba | 10.1 km SSW | 6,576 |
| Monserrate | 11.4 km SSW | 2,756 |
| Toa Baja | 11.5 km SSE | 1,889 |
| Vega Baja | 12.2 km SW | 29,325 |
| Vega Alta | 13.3 km S | 12,036 |
| Ingenio | 13.8 km SE | 5,664 |
Earthquake history in this area
12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in Puerto Rico.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
31 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.2 7 km ENE of Fajardo, Puerto Rico
M 3.2 8 km WNW of Maricao, Puerto Rico
M 2.9 0 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico
M 2.8 43 km NNE of Arecibo, Puerto Rico
M 3.1 2 km SW of Hato Candal, Puerto Rico
M 2.8 10 km NNE of Tierras Nuevas Poniente, Puerto Rico
M 2.9 1 km WSW of Guayanilla, Puerto Rico
M 2.6 5 km N of Animas, Puerto Rico
M 3.3 80 km N of San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 7 km NNE of Brenas, Puerto Rico earthquake?
Magnitude 2.9 (duration magnitude), at a depth of 75.1 km. At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
Exactly when did it happen?
Aug 19, 2026, 07:16 AM (local time at the epicentre — AST, UTC-4). In universal time: 2026-08-19 11:16 UTC.
Was it felt?
No “Did You Feel It?” reports were submitted for this event. Small earthquakes usually pass unnoticed except very close to the epicentre.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Brenas, 7.6 km SSW (population 2,104).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 6.4 (4 km SSE of Indios, Puerto Rico, 2020), and 31 further events were recorded within 100 km in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and, in Venezuela, FUNVISIS. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.