5.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Dominican Republic, Felt in Puerto Rico

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck off the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic early Tuesday, with the epicenter located about 24 miles southeast of Boca de Yuma at a depth of around 104-168 kilometers, according to various seismological reports. The quake was strongly felt across the Dominican Republic, including several towns and popular tourist areas, as well as in neighboring Puerto Rico, but no physical damage or injuries have been reported. The region lies along the boundary between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate, which is a zone of high seismic activity. Additionally, a separate 4.0-4.1 magnitude earthquake occurred near Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, the day before, also causing no reported damage, though Haiti remains vulnerable due to its location on the same fault zone that produced devastating quakes in 2010 and 2021. Residents reported shaking, rattling windows, and lights swaying during the Dominican Republic quake, but authorities have not issued tsunami warnings or advisories. The events highlight the ongoing seismic risks in the Caribbean region, particularly along the Hispaniola island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti.