USGS · August 31, 2026
Magnitude 3.1 earthquake — 2 km SW of Hato Candal, Puerto Rico
A magnitude 3.1 earthquake was recorded near 2 km SW of Hato Candal, Puerto Rico on Aug 31, 2026, 02:53 AM (local time at the epicentre — AST, UTC-4), at a depth of about 128.4 km, according to USGS.
USGSIntermediate (70–300 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-04 18:15 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 3.1 · duration magnitude
- Location
- 2 km SW of Hato Candal, Puerto Rico
- Local time at the epicentre
- Aug 31, 2026, 02:53 AM — AST, UTC-4
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-08-31 06:53 UTC
- Depth
- 128.4 km · Intermediate (70–300 km)
- Coordinates
- 18.360, -65.802
- Felt reports
- No “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 150 / 1000 · routine event
- Solution quality
- 17 seismic stations used · 168° azimuthal gap (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 542,855 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 2,053,912 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Hato Candal | 2.2 km NE | 2,453 |
| Palmer | 3.1 km ENE | 1,205 |
| Río Grande | 3.9 km NW | 13,467 |
| Bartolo | 3.9 km W | 1,260 |
| La Dolores | 6.0 km WNW | 3,534 |
| Playa Fortuna | 6.3 km ENE | 2,037 |
| Vieques | 7.9 km NNW | 4,325 |
| Luquillo | 9.1 km E | 8,326 |
| Suárez | 9.5 km NW | 2,276 |
| San Isidro | 9.5 km WNW | 8,071 |
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
24 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.0 28 km SSW of Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
M 2.8 10 km NNE of Tierras Nuevas Poniente, Puerto Rico
M 3.3 54 km N of Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
M 2.9 9 km NE of Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
M 2.6 5 km N of Animas, Puerto Rico
M 3.3 80 km N of San Juan, Puerto Rico
M 3.1 36 km NNE of Arecibo, Puerto RicoFelt · 1
M 3.4 75 km N of San Juan, Puerto Rico
M 3.1 14 km SSE of Esperanza, Puerto Rico
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 2 km SW of Hato Candal, Puerto Rico earthquake?
Magnitude 3.1 (duration magnitude), at a depth of 128.4 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 31, 2026, 02:53 AM (local time at the epicentre — AST, UTC-4). In universal time: 2026-08-31 06:53 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 Hato Candal, 2.2 km NE (population 2,453).
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 24 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.