Two earthquakes of magnitude 4.8 and 4.69 shake Puerto Rico on Christmas Eve

Two magnitude 4.8 and 4.69 earthquakes, approximately 47 minutes apart, were recorded this afternoon in Puerto Rico, the Seismic Network confirmed.

No tsunami warning or warning was issued.

The first earthquake took place at 12:46 pm and was of magnitude 4.8, with its epicenter 12.91 kilometers south of Guayanilla, near the seismic zone where earthquakes have been generated since last year. The depth of the quake, according to the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, was 2 kilometers.

The second tremor, reported at 01:33 pm, was of magnitude 4.69 and had its epicenter, preliminarily, between Guayanilla and Peñuelas, also about 2 kilometers deep.

The two earthquakes are the most recent of a total of 14 captured by sensors from the Seismic Network and the U.S. Geological Survey from about 1:00 a.m. today, Thursday.

The maximum intensity of the earthquake was recorded, preliminarily, as of V in Yauco. The second tremor, which occurred around 1:34 p.m., had an IV intensity.

The New Day tried to contact the director of the Seismic Network, Víctor Orfe, but it has not been possible to get the expert.

Social media users reported hearing the quake from various parts of the island. In fact, a map of the Seismic Network shows that the population reported hearing the earthquake from virtually the entire island.

The quake is one of more than 15 earthquakes that have been recorded on the island since the early hours of this morning in the southern part of the island, between Guánica and Guayanilla.

Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced posted on the social network Twitter that she communicated with “some southern mayors” and that “everything is fine.”

“We will continue to watch for the events of the latest tremors,” Vázquez Garced wrote.

Immediately, no damage reports emerged in the south.