A 5.5 magnitude tremor shook the Caribbean Sea this Monday night, June 23, 2025, without causing victims or structural damage. The quake occurred at 10:45 p.m. local time (02:45 GMT Tuesday), with epicenter about 92 kilometers northeast of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and at a depth of 1 kilometer, according to official reports from the Seismic Network of Puerto Rico(RSPR) and the National Seismology Center of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (CNS-UASD).
The exact coordinate of the epicenter was latitude 19.109°N and longitude -68.041°W, a location within the seismic zone of the Mona Channel, which separates Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, two territories located on the convergent boundary of the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates. The event was reported with a maximum intensity of level IV on the Modified Mercalli scale, and was felt slightly in several regions of western Puerto Rico, including Mayagüez and Aguadilla, as well as on the east coast of the Dominican Republic, mainly in La Altagracia and El Seibo.
No tsunami risk
Despite the magnitude of the earthquake between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, no tsunami alert, warning or watch was issued.
This is because the earthquake did not generate dangerous wave conditions, as confirmed by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC).
There were also no interruptions in basic services, nor were key infrastructures such as hospitals, airports or ports affected.
The Caribbean continues to tremble
Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are located in one of the most seismically active regions of the western hemisphere.
Plate convergence causes thousands of small movements per year.
According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), most are imperceptible to the population, but some reach considerable magnitudes.
In Puerto Rico, the memory of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake in January 2020 is still fresh.
That event caused extensive damage in the southern part of the island, including homes, schools and roads.
The Dominican Republic has more than 14 active seismic faults, such as the Septentrional Fault, which has generated historic earthquakes of up to magnitude 8.0.
Recommendations
Although this earthquake did not have a direct impact in the U.S., many Hispanic residents in the country have family ties to Puerto Rico and the DR.
It is important for those who travel frequently or own property in the Caribbean region to be informed and prepared for possible seismic emergencies.
No tsunami warning, advisory, or watch was issued
It is recommended to:
Consult official sources such as RSPR, CNS-UASD and USGS
Have a family emergency plan if traveling to the Caribbean
Verify property insurance in earthquake prone areas.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
