Earthquakes in Puerto Rico — December 2024

62 earthquakes were recorded in Puerto Rico during December 2024, an average of 2.0 per day.

0 reached magnitude 4 or above and 0 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 16 km.

The month's largest event in Puerto Rico was a magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Ensenada, Puerto Rico on 23 December 2024 at 21:14 UTC. A magnitude 3.5 earthquake radiates roughly 2.5 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is close to the Puerto Rico monthly average of 62 events over the period we cover.

98% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 2% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.

By band, the catalogue holds 6 in the magnitude 1 range, 49 in the magnitude 2 range, 7 in the magnitude 3 range.

Activity peaked on 23 December, when 12 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M3.5 near Ensenada, Puerto Rico on 23 December at 14 km; M3.5 near Cayey, Puerto Rico on 28 December at 24 km; M3.4 near Guayama, Puerto Rico on 23 December at 25 km.

That is close to the 62 events Puerto Rico averages per month across the 2 months on record.