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Note:This page contains AI-generated content for informational and entertainment purposes only. It may contain inaccuracies. Raw event data is from USGS and EMSC. All statistics, lists, and derived information are generated by this site. Full disclaimerFound an error?
Location:
5 km WSW of Fuig, Puerto Rico
Period:
14 Mar 2023 13:11:27 - 20 Mar 2023 22:16:11 (6 days 9 hours 4 minutes)
Volcanoes in 100km radius:
None
Earthquakes:
92
20 swarms found nearby.
2018
S20181215.1(24.3km)
14 Dec
4 days 6 hours
109 earthquakes
2019
28 Dec
244 days 6 hours
9147 earthquakes
2020
S20200107.1(12.8km)
7 Jan
1 day 21 hours
53 earthquakes
1 May
2 days 18 hours
36 earthquakes
S20201007.2(16.1km)
6 Oct
22 days 9 hours
229 earthquakes
17 Nov
35 days 20 hours
447 earthquakes
23 Dec
46 days 11 hours
2842 earthquakes
2021
S20210108.1(14.2km)
7 Jan
13 days 20 hours
148 earthquakes
S20210130.1(11.3km)
29 Jan
2 days 1 hours
29 earthquakes
24 Jun
6 days 15 hours
127 earthquakes
S20210718.1(16.3km)
17 Jul
3 days 1 hours
37 earthquakes
2022
1 Feb
37 days 20 hours
630 earthquakes
21 Mar
19 days 5 hours
207 earthquakes
23 Apr
17 days 11 hours
189 earthquakes
S20220806.1(10.1km)
5 Aug
13 days 6 hours
262 earthquakes
2023
8 Apr
10 days 15 hours
189 earthquakes
30 Sep
3 days 22 hours
63 earthquakes
23 Oct
1 day 13 hours
25 earthquakes
2025
S20250312.1(12.1km)
12 Mar
4 days 6 hours
74 earthquakes
S20250320.3(13.7km)
20 Mar
5 days 23 hours
70 earthquakes
AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Swarm S20230315.1: Analysis of Activity Near Fuig, Puerto Rico

Seismic swarm S20230315.1 was recorded in southwestern Puerto Rico, centered 5 km west-southwest of Fuig. The sequence began at 13:11 on 14 March 2023 and concluded at 22:16 on 20 March 2023, spanning 153 hours and 4 minutes. During this period, 92 earthquakes were detected.

The events exhibited magnitudes predominantly between 1.3 and 4.2, with the majority falling in the 2.0–2.7 range. Depths varied from 2 km to 43 km, though most clustered between 5 km and 10 km, indicating shallow crustal activity. A notable event of magnitude 4.2 occurred at 07:51 on 15 March at a depth of 7 km, accompanied by several events above magnitude 3.0 on the same day. Activity peaked on 15 March before gradually declining through 20 March.

Puerto Rico occupies a tectonically active zone at the boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates. This setting produces frequent seismic swarms due to oblique convergence, strike-slip faulting, and subduction-related processes along the Puerto Rico Trench. The island's historical seismicity includes destructive events such as the 1918 magnitude 7.1 earthquake and the 2020 southwestern Puerto Rico sequence, underscoring the region's persistent earthquake hazard.

Statistical context from 2000 onward shows 15 documented swarms in Puerto Rico. Yearly distribution includes one swarm each in 2018 and 2019, five in 2020, four in 2021, and four in 2022. Swarm S20230315.1 aligns with this pattern of episodic, clustered seismicity rather than isolated mainshock-aftershock sequences.

The provided event parameters reveal a typical swarm signature: rapid onset, high event rate over several days, and absence of a single dominant mainshock. Shallow depths and moderate magnitudes suggest activation of local fault networks without significant surface rupture potential.

References

USGS Earthquake Catalog
Puerto Rico Seismic Network historical records
Caribbean tectonic framework summaries from peer-reviewed geophysical literature