After many tremors in the past week, and a 5.8
earthquake on Monday, a second, more powerful and deadly 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck just off the southern coast of
Puerto Rico on Tuesday morning.Following what the U.S. Geological Survey reported was a 6.4 quake that struck at 4:24 a.m., local time, reports of injuries and heavy building damage immediately rolled in. Eight individuals were injured and at least one fatality has been confirmed in the city of Ponce, according to the city's Mayor Mayita Meléndez and Telemundo Puerto Rico.
Aftershocks from the 6.4 magnitude quake could be felt throughout the region. (Per USGS) On
Twitter, Puerto Rico's power authority reported that one of the country's main power plants had been damaged by the quake, triggering a nationwide power outage. Officials expect power to be restored to the island later Tuesday.
A home is seen collapsed after an earthquake in Guanica, Puerto Rico January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Ricardo Ortiz Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vasquez told a radio station that there were no fatalities in the immediate aftermath.A 5.8 magnitude aftershock occurred at 6:18 a.m., local time, following the initial peak. The quake struck about 3 miles (5 kilometers) south-southwest of the town of Tallaboa, along the southern shores of Puerto Rico.
A home is seen collapsed after an earthquake in Guanica, Puerto Rico January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Ricardo Ortiz The
United States National
tsunami Warning Center tweeted that a tsunami was not expected for the U.S. Atlantic or Gulf coasts. While a tsunami alert was initially made by the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, the alert was later discontinued according to the director.Damage reports have ranged from collapsed buildings to cracked and raised roadways.This comes less than 24 hours after a powerful 5.8 quake struck just south of the island early Monday morning.
Cars are crushed under a home that collapsed after an earthquake hit Guanica, Puerto Rico, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. A 5.8 magnitude quake hit Puerto Rico before dawn Monday, unleashing small landslides, causing power outages and severely cracking some homes. There were no immediate reports of casualties. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) Shaking was felt across much of the island from Monday's temblor, including light shaking in the capital of San Juan. The epicenter was located about 9 miles (14 km) from the community of Indios in the municipality of Guayanilla.The Associated Press reported that Monday's earthquake triggered small landslides, caused the foundations in homes to crack and resulted in numerous power outages.> Atendido el derrumbe en la PR-335 en Guayanilla, ocasionado por el temblor de esta mañana. Agradecemos la gestión del @munguayanilla para habilitar nuevamente dicha vía. @wandavazquezg @fortalezapr @contreraspr pic.twitter.com/2PTIDTqx8G> > -- DTOP (@DTOP) January 6, 2020Large boulders that toppled off hillsides were reportedly blocking major thoroughfares, including the highway near the town of Guanica that heads towards San Juan, the AP reported.Jose Francisco Benitez, an attorney staying at a hotel in Guanica, told the AP that people panicked as they tried to leave in their cars only to realize they were stuck due to the road being blocked."The weather will be good for any cleanup efforts through the middle of the week with nothing more than a brief shower and occasional gusty wind," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Eric Leister.