Puerto Rico sits at the boundary of the Caribbean and North American plates; the 2020 southwestern sequence included a damaging M6.4 earthquake. This page pulls real records for Puerto Rico: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Puerto Rico.
Check Puerto Rico hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Puerto Rico - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Puerto Rico - FAQ
Is Puerto Rico at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 38 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.8 in 1946.
What was the biggest earthquake in Puerto Rico?
The strongest earthquake on record near Puerto Rico is M7.8, in 1946 (16 km NNW of Miches, Dominican Republic), from USGS.
Does Puerto Rico get tsunamis?
Yes - 9 tsunamis since 1867 (most recently 2020) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 1,790 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Puerto Rico?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.