Earthquakes in Puerto Rico — December 2024

120 earthquakes were recorded in Puerto Rico during December 2024, an average of 3.9 per day.

3 reached magnitude 4 or above and 0 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 28 km.

The month's largest event in Puerto Rico was a magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Culebra, Puerto Rico on 03 December 2024 at 09:32 UTC. A magnitude 4.7 earthquake radiates roughly 142 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is below the Puerto Rico monthly average of 169 events over the period we cover — a comparatively quiet month, and up from the 33 recorded the previous month.

90% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 10% 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, 54 in the magnitude 2 range, 57 in the magnitude 3 range, 3 in the magnitude 4 range.

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

The month's largest events were M4.7 near Culebra, Puerto Rico on 03 December at 106 km; M4.1 near Suárez, Puerto Rico on 25 December at 86 km; M4.0 near Suárez, Puerto Rico on 26 December at 87 km.

That is 29% below the 169 events Puerto Rico averages per month across the 22 months on record.