BOCA DE YUMA, Dominican Republic, June 26 — A magnitude 5 earthquake struck about 51 kilometers south of Boca de Yuma on Friday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The quake hit at 16:06 UTC at a depth of 82 kilometers. That depth matters.
Seismologists call this an intermediate-to-deep earthquake, and the practical upshot is that it can be felt across a wide region but often causes less surface damage than a shallow event of similar size. No tsunami warning was issued following the event.
At least 92 people reported feeling the earthquake, according to USGS data. Earthquakes in the magnitude 5 range are moderate and can cause minor to moderate damage near the epicenter. Here’s what it means for the region in seismic terms: This part of the Caribbean is no stranger to shaking.
The USGS records show at least 51 earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or greater have occurred within about 300 kilometers of this spot over the past two decades. The strongest during that period was a magnitude 6.4 quake in 2020.
The depth of Friday’s quake — 82 kilometers — puts it on the deeper end of the intermediate range. A deeper quake spreads its energy through more rock before it emerges, which can reduce the intensity of shaking at the surface. Aftershocks are common following an earthquake of this size, seismologists note.
They may continue for days or even weeks. People in the affected area are generally advised to be prepared for further shaking. The USGS detected the event through its real-time global seismic monitoring network, which tracks earthquakes as they happen anywhere on the planet.
For residents near Boca de Yuma, the immediate takeaway is straightforward: The shaking has stopped, but the ground may not be done yet. Staying alert for aftershocks in the coming days is the practical step to take.
