USGS · September 15, 2026
Magnitude 2.9 earthquake — 5 km E of La Parguera, Puerto Rico
A magnitude 2.9 earthquake was recorded near 5 km E of La Parguera, Puerto Rico on Sep 15, 2026, 02:21 AM (local time at the epicentre — AST, UTC-4), at a depth of about 13.2 km, according to USGS.
USGSShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-15 09:46 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 2.9 · duration magnitude
- Location
- 5 km E of La Parguera, Puerto Rico
- Local time at the epicentre
- Sep 15, 2026, 02:21 AM — AST, UTC-4
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-09-15 06:21 UTC
- Depth
- 13.2 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- 17.971, -66.996
- Felt reports
- No “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 126 / 1000 · routine event
- Solution quality
- 18 seismic stations used · 179° 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
Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
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 189,908 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 995,336 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| La Parguera | 5.3 km W | 1,141 |
| Fuig | 8.7 km ENE | 1,204 |
| Guánica | 9.3 km E | 9,224 |
| Liborio Negron Torres | 9.8 km NE | 1,303 |
| Lajas | 11.0 km NW | 5,255 |
| Maria Antonia | 11.3 km E | 1,479 |
| Palmarejo | 11.4 km NW | 1,169 |
| Lluveras | 12.2 km NE | 2,005 |
| Sabana Grande | 12.4 km NNE | 8,961 |
| San Germán | 13.3 km NNW | 12,055 |
Earthquake history in this area
10 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 2.6 1 km SSE of Indios, Puerto Rico
M 3.3 64 km SW of Pole Ojea, Puerto Rico
M 2.5 15 km W of Pole Ojea, Puerto Rico
M 3.2 27 km N of Isabela, Puerto Rico
M 3.2 7 km WNW of Maricao, Puerto RicoFelt · 1
M 2.7 20 km SW of Stella, Puerto Rico
M 2.6 6 km SW of Guánica, Puerto Rico
M 2.7 3 km ENE of Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico
M 2.9 3 km SSE of Magas Arriba, Puerto Rico
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 5 km E of La Parguera, Puerto Rico earthquake?
Magnitude 2.9 (duration magnitude), at a depth of 13.2 km. Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Exactly when did it happen?
Sep 15, 2026, 02:21 AM (local time at the epicentre — AST, UTC-4). In universal time: 2026-09-15 06:21 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 La Parguera, 5.3 km W (population 1,141).
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.