M5.6

M 5.6 - 88 km NE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands

Moderate Earthquake · May 4, 2025 · 88 km NE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands

Key Insights

•This M5.6 moderate earthquake ranks #249 out of 470 events in the database.
•At M5.6, this is 0.1 points below the database average of M5.7.
•The 20.0 km focal depth is classified as intermediate (average: 27 km across all events).
•A USGS significance score of 666 places this among the 265 most impactful events tracked, based on magnitude, felt reports, and damage potential.

Depth

20.0 km

Tsunami

Felt Reports

343

Significance

666

Earthquake Details

Magnitude	M5.6(ml)
Classification	Moderate Earthquake
Location	88 km NE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands
Date & Time	May 4, 2025 15:58:24
Coordinates	18.9858N, 64.3160W
Depth	20.0 km (Intermediate)
Tsunami	No
Felt Reports	343 reports submitted to USGS
CDI (Community Intensity)	5.2
Significance Score	666 / 3,000
Status	reviewed

Magnitude Scale Context

Minor

3-3.9

Light

4-4.9

Moderate

5-5.9

Strong

6-6.9

Major

At M5.6, this is classified as a Moderate earthquake. Earthquakes of this size can cause moderate damage to vulnerable structures and are widely felt.

Official USGS Page: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/pr2025124000

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong was the 88 km NE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands earthquake?

The 88 km NE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands earthquake had a magnitude of 5.63 ml, classified as a "Moderate" earthquake on the magnitude scale. Earthquakes of this magnitude can cause damage to poorly constructed buildings and are felt widely.

Where exactly did this earthquake occur and how deep was it?

This earthquake struck at coordinates 18.9858N, 64.3160W, at a depth of 20.0 km. This intermediate depth can still produce significant shaking at the surface.

Did this earthquake trigger a tsunami warning?

No tsunami warning was issued for this earthquake. Earthquakes below magnitude 6.5 rarely generate dangerous tsunamis, though localized effects are possible in rare cases.

How many people felt this earthquake?

343 people submitted felt reports to the USGS for this earthquake. The Community Decimal Intensity (CDI) reached 5.2, indicating moderate shaking felt by most people indoors.

When did this earthquake happen and how significant was it?

This earthquake occurred on May 4, 2025 at 15:58:24. The USGS assigned it a significance score of 666 out of a possible 3,000, which factors in magnitude, felt reports, and potential impact. This is a moderately significant seismic event.

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Key Insights

•This M5.6 moderate earthquake ranks #249 out of 470 events in the database.

•At M5.6, this is 0.1 points below the database average of M5.7.

•The 20.0 km focal depth is classified as intermediate (average: 27 km across all events).

•A USGS significance score of 666 places this among the 265 most impactful events tracked, based on magnitude, felt reports, and damage potential.

Earthquake Details

Magnitude

M5.6(ml)

Classification

Moderate Earthquake

Location

88 km NE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands

Date & Time

May 4, 2025 15:58:24

Coordinates

18.9858N, 64.3160W

Depth

20.0 km (Intermediate)

Tsunami

Felt Reports

343 reports submitted to USGS

CDI (Community Intensity)

5.2

Significance Score

666 / 3,000

Status

reviewed