Earthquakes in Puerto Rico — May 2026

173 earthquakes were recorded in Puerto Rico during May 2026, an average of 5.6 per day.

2 reached magnitude 4 or above and 0 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 20 km.

The month's largest event in Puerto Rico was a magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Luquillo, Puerto Rico on 18 May 2026 at 11:40 UTC. A magnitude 4.2 earthquake radiates roughly 30 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is close to the Puerto Rico monthly average of 173 events over the period we cover, and level with the 173 recorded the previous month.

95% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 5% 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 19 in the magnitude 1 range, 103 in the magnitude 2 range, 49 in the magnitude 3 range, 2 in the magnitude 4 range.

Activity peaked on 01 May, when 15 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M4.2 near Luquillo, Puerto Rico on 18 May at 35 km; M4.2 near Culebra, Puerto Rico on 18 May at 26 km; M3.6 near Hatillo, Puerto Rico on 15 May at 35 km.

That is close to the 173 events Puerto Rico averages per month across the 21 months on record.