Earthquakes Near San Juan Today
Live answer from USGS data — every earthquake within 150 km (93 mi) of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Checking live USGS data near San Juan…
Why San Juan gets earthquakes
Puerto Rico sits on an active plate boundary: the Puerto Rico Trench to the north — the deepest point in the Atlantic — marks where the North American plate dives beneath the Caribbean plate. The 1787 quake, possibly M8+, damaged forts across San Juan, and the 1918 Mona Passage M7.3 sent a deadly tsunami into the west coast.
The 2019–2020 earthquake sequence in the island's southwest — peaking with the January 7, 2020 M6.4 near Guánica — was felt strongly in San Juan and displaced thousands. The capital's biggest local risks are shaking amplified by soft coastal soils and tsunami potential from the trench.
San Juan earthquake FAQ
▸Did San Juan just have an earthquake?
The live panel at the top of this page checks the USGS catalog for every earthquake within 150 km of San Juan and answers in one line. Keep in mind USGS data lags real shaking by roughly 2–3 minutes in California and up to ~8 minutes in other regions — if you felt something seconds ago, refresh shortly.
▸What faults cause earthquakes near San Juan?
San Juan's hazard comes from the Puerto Rico Trench subduction zone offshore north, faults in the Mona Passage to the west (source of the 1918 M7.3 and tsunami), and the southwestern fault zones that produced the 2020 M6.4 sequence.
▸What magnitude earthquake can you feel in San Juan, PR?
Close to the epicenter, people typically begin to feel earthquakes around magnitude 2.5–3.0. An M4+ is felt across a wide area and rattles objects; M5+ can damage buildings near the epicenter. Shallow quakes feel stronger than deep ones of the same magnitude, and soft soils amplify shaking.
▸What should I do if I feel an earthquake in San Juan?
Drop, Cover, and Hold On — get low, take cover under sturdy furniture, and hold on until shaking stops. Afterward, check for hazards like gas leaks, and expect possible aftershocks. If you're in a coastal area and the shaking is strong or lasts a long time, move inland or to high ground. Official guidance: ready.gov/earthquakes.