1787 Boricua earthquake

1787 Boricua earthquake
Local dateMay 2, 1787 (1787-05-02)
Magnitude6.9 MI[1]
8.0–8.25 Mw[1]
Areas affectedPuerto Rico
TsunamiYes
Casualtiesunknown

The 1787 Boricua earthquake struck offshore of the island of Puerto Rico on May 2. The magnitude of the earthquake was believed to have been around 8.0–8.25, however there is evidence that it was only about 6.9.[1] The epicenter is thought to have been somewhere north of Puerto Rico, probably on the Puerto Rico Trench.[2] Puerto Rican geomorphologist José Molinelli considers it "the strongest" in the seismic history of the country.[3]

  1. ^ a b c ten Brink, Dr. Uri; Bakun, William H.; Flores, Claudia H. (29 December 2011). "Historical perspective on seismic hazard to Hispaniola and the northeast Caribbean region". Journal of Geophysical Research. 116 (B12). Bibcode:2011JGRB..11612318T. doi:10.1029/2011JB008497. hdl:1912/5022.
  2. ^ Earthquake History of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on USGS
  3. ^ Alvarado León, Gerardo E. (May 5, 2016). "A 229 años del terremoto "más fuerte en la historia"". El Nuevo Día. Retrieved May 5, 2016.