1943 Puerto Rico earthquake
Mayagüez San Juan | |
| UTC time | 1943-07-29 03:02:17 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 899944 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | 1943-07-28 |
| Local time | 23:02:17 |
| Magnitude | 7.7 Mw |
| Depth | 33 km (21 mi) |
| Epicenter | 18°54′25″N 67°07′05″W / 18.907°N 67.118°W |
| Type | Thrust (reverse fault) |
| Areas affected | Puerto Rico |
| Total damage | $2 million USD |
| Max. intensity | MMI VI (Strong) |
| Tsunami | Yes |
| Casualties | Minor injuries |
The 1943 Puerto Rico earthquake struck off the northwestern coast of the island of Puerto Rico at approximately 23:02 AST on July 28, 1943 (03:02 UTC on July 29). The earthquake, measured at 7.7 on the moment magnitude scale (Mw ) by the United States Geological Service (USGS), struck in or near the eastern slope of the Mona Canyon along the Puerto Rico Trench, approximately 44 kilometres (27 mi) north of Aguadilla and 57 kilometres (35 mi) northwest of Arecibo. A small tsunami was reported along the northwestern coast of Puerto Rico but no fatalities or significant damages were reported.
It was the largest earthquake to impact the area since the destructive 1918 event. Despite being the largest earthquake to directly impact Puerto Rico in the 20th century, it produced no fatalities due to the time and depth of the seismic movement. Only minor injuries and moderate infrastructure damages totaling up to US$2 million were reported as a result.