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Puerto Rico Earthquake Is Largest To Hit US Territory In Years

By Patricia Didelot
Published on: 23:30 PST, Jan 13, 2014

The 6.5 magnitude earthquake that hit Puerto Rico early Monday morning, is one of the largest to hit US territory in years.

Luckily, — even though the temblor rattled residents — it caused not major damage, with only some cracks on floors and some power outages reported.

The US Geological Survey indicated the earthquake struck Puerto Rico just after midnight about 35 miles north of Hatillo, at a depth of 17 miles.

Gisela Baez Sanchez, a geologist with Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network says at least three of the 70 aftershocks were a magnitude of 3.5 and greater.

“All of Puerto Rico is in a seismic danger zone,” Baez Sanchez said in a phone interview. “We have to be prepared.”

Cracked windows, a busted pipeline, and cracked floors were reported in the immediate aftermath of the Puerto Rico earthquake.

Authorities say power outages occurred in the northern city of Bayamon, close to San Juan, the island nation’s capital.

Hundreds called the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency to report their experience with the earthquake, however, no serious damage or injuries has occurred, according spokesman Carlos Acevedo.

“The damages have been minor,” Acevedo said. “No one has required our services.”

Some residents criticized the government for their handling of the earthquake in Puerto Rico saying there was no alert issued.

Authorities defend their decision not to send any alerts, saying they would have issued emergency information if there was risk of a tsunami.

From posts on Twitter, most people are calm and taking the earthquake in Puerto Rico in stride:

One of the biggest earthquakes to hit Puerto Rico took place in October of 1918 unleashing a tsunami that killed 118 people.

Baez says the island nation is hit by earthquakes that people cannot feel on a daily basis due to their location by a fault in which two tectonic plates crashing into each other.

Sunday marked the fourth anniversary of the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti and left 200,000 people dead and 1.5 million homeless.

The last time Puerto Rico was affected by an earthquake was in March of 2011 when a 5.4 magnitude temblor struck the nation.

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