M5.7

M 5.7 - 74 km NE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands

Moderate Earthquake · December 9, 2023 · 74 km NE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands

Key Insights

•This M5.7 moderate earthquake ranks #242 out of 470 events in the database.
•At 7.0 km depth, this is classified as a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes typically cause stronger ground shaking and more damage than deeper events (avg depth: 27 km).
•A USGS significance score of 591 places this among the 265 most impactful events tracked, based on magnitude, felt reports, and damage potential.

Depth

7.0 km

Tsunami

Felt Reports

172

Significance

591

Earthquake Details

Magnitude	M5.7(ml)
Classification	Moderate Earthquake
Location	74 km NE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands
Date & Time	December 9, 2023 23:27:22
Coordinates	18.8785N, 64.3833W
Depth	7.0 km (Shallow)
Tsunami	No
Felt Reports	172 reports submitted to USGS
CDI (Community Intensity)	5.3
Significance Score	591 / 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 M5.7, 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/pr2023343002

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong was the 74 km NE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands earthquake?

The 74 km NE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands earthquake had a magnitude of 5.7 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 18.8785N, 64.3833W, at a depth of 7.0 km. Shallow earthquakes (under 20 km) tend to cause more surface damage than deeper events.

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?

172 people submitted felt reports to the USGS for this earthquake. The Community Decimal Intensity (CDI) reached 5.3, indicating moderate shaking felt by most people indoors.

When did this earthquake happen and how significant was it?

This earthquake occurred on December 9, 2023 at 23:27:22. The USGS assigned it a significance score of 591 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 M5.7 moderate earthquake ranks #242 out of 470 events in the database.

•At 7.0 km depth, this is classified as a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes typically cause stronger ground shaking and more damage than deeper events (avg depth: 27 km).

•A USGS significance score of 591 places this among the 265 most impactful events tracked, based on magnitude, felt reports, and damage potential.

Earthquake Details

Magnitude

M5.7(ml)

Classification

Moderate Earthquake

Location

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

Date & Time

December 9, 2023 23:27:22

Coordinates

18.8785N, 64.3833W

Depth

7.0 km (Shallow)

Tsunami

Felt Reports

172 reports submitted to USGS

CDI (Community Intensity)

5.3

Significance Score

591 / 3,000

Status

reviewed