Earthquake Frenzy TODAY: Caribbean Shocker, Pacific Powerhouse & Surprise U.S. Tremor—See Where the Ground Is Shaking Right Now
A surprisingly busy 24 hours of seismic activity saw a M 5.7–5.8 quake off the Dominican Republic that rattled Puerto Rico, a M 6.3–6.5 event east of the Philippine archipelago that was felt as far as Thailand and Myanmar, and a widely‑felt but harmless M 2.7 jolt under Los Angeles. Dozens of smaller shocks—most notably in Chile, Papua New Guinea and Nevada—rounded out the global picture. No tsunami warnings were issued, but scientists caution that today’s events are “a timely reminder that quake‑preparedness is a 24/7 job.” apnews.comreuters.comlatimes.com
1. Snapshot of Today’s Significant Quakes (UTC)
| Region | Time (UTC) | Magnitude | Depth | Key Take‑aways |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NNE of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | 02:45 | 5.7–5.8 | 42–68 km | Felt strongly in Puerto Rico; no tsunami apnews.comreuters.com |
| East of Philippine Islands (Philippine Sea) | 01:58 | 6.3–6.5 | 10 km | Region on Ring of Fire; tremors reached Thailand/Myanmar reuters.comnationthailand.com |
| Los Angeles, California (Burbank) | 19:22 | 2.7 | 8 km | “Wake‑up” quake; no damage latimes.com |
| Atacama Desert, Chile | 07:42 | 4.4 | 179 km | Deep‑focus shock; not felt widely earthquaketrack.com |
| Solomon Sea, Papua New Guinea | 22 Jun → local 24 Jun | 5.0 | 35 km | Typical for New Britain seismic zone volcanodiscovery.com |
| Wadsworth, Nevada, USA | 06:33 | 2.2 | 0.4 km | Very shallow micro‑quake earthquake.usgs.gov |
USGS “Latest Earthquakes” feed listed ~80 events ≥ M 2.5 in the past day at time of writing. earthquake.usgs.gov
2. Caribbean Hotspot: Dominican Republic–Puerto Rico Quake
- What happened? A M 5.7–5.8 event struck ~77 km NNE of Punta Cana at 02:45 UTC, 24 Jun 2025. apnews.comearthquake.usgs.gov
- Ground truth: Hundreds filed “Did‑You‑Feel‑It?” reports across Puerto Rico; power flickered in Utuado, and light items fell from shelves. apnews.comapnews.com
- Expert view:
- “Because the quake originated about 68 km down, shaking was vigorous but not catastrophic,” the U.S. Geological Survey noted in its preliminary bulletin. reuters.com
- The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stressed, “There is no tsunami threat for the Atlantic basin.” tsunami.gov
- Aftershocks: At least a dozen, strongest M 4.2, have been logged. foxweather.com
3. Western Pacific Rumblings: Philippine Sea M 6.5
- Event details: GFZ and PHIVOLCS measured a 6.3–6.5 quake at 7.97 °N, 129.83 °E, depth 10 km. reuters.com
- Regional impact: Tremors rolled through high‑rise buildings in Bangkok and Mandalay. Thailand’s Earthquake Observation Division warned residents to “remain vigilant,” noting that even distant quakes can load local faults. nationthailand.com
- Quote: “The intensity warrants close monitoring due to potential seismic activity in the wider region,” the Division said in its morning bulletin. nationthailand.com
- No tsunami: Philippine and Thai agencies confirmed sea‑level gauges showed no abnormal waves. aa.com.tr
4. United States: The 2 a.m. “Coffee‑Spill” Quake in L.A.
Southern California’s early‑afternoon M 2.7 quake near Burbank jolted many awake but produced no damage. Veteran seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones reminded Angelenos on X that “quakes of this size are normal—use them as a drill to check your kit.” latimes.comx.com
5. Other Notable Shocks
| Region | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Chile (Atacama) – Deep M 4.4 event typical of subducting Nazca plate; negligible surface shaking. earthquaketrack.com | |
| Papua New Guinea (Solomon Sea) – M 5.0 early morning; part of ongoing New Britain seismic swarm. volcanodiscovery.com | |
| Nevada, USA – Two micro‑quakes (M 2.2 & 1.9) mark ongoing Basin‑and‑Range extension. earthquake.usgs.govearthquake.usgs.gov |
6. Why So Many Quakes Today?
- Tectonic setting: All large events occurred on or near convergent plate margins—the Caribbean subduction interface, the Philippine Sea trench system, and the ever‑active Pacific “Ring of Fire.” reuters.comapnews.com
- Depth matters: Intermediate‑depth Caribbean event spared the region major damage; conversely, the shallow Philippine quake prompted wider felt reports. reuters.comnationthailand.com
- No global cascade: Experts emphasize today’s quakes are not causally linked; their near‑simultaneity is statistical coincidence. bnonews.com
7. Preparedness Pointers (Quick‑Read)
- Drop‑Cover‑Hold wherever you are when shaking begins.
- Tsunami awareness: If you feel long, strong shaking on a coast, move inland/uphill even if no alert sounds.
- Check your kit tonight: water, meds, flashlight, radio, spare phone charger.
- Secure heavy items (TVs, bookshelves) before the next tremor reminds you.
