Puerto Rico records 5.4 magnitude quake

A 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit near the city of Ponce in southern Puerto Rico on Saturday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The earthquake is associated with a series of quakes that began in December, Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced tweeted, citing Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network.

“In the long run, it’s decreasing, but you can have peaks,” Víctor Huérfano, director of Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network, told The Associated Press.

En comunicación con el Dr. Víctor Huérfano de la @redsismica nos informa que los eventos de hoy están asociados a los sismos de diciembre. Aunque se estaba experimentando una disminución en magnitud, intensidad y eventos en la últimas semanas, debemos estar preparados siempre.

— Wanda Vázquez Garced (@wandavazquezg) May 2, 2020

Santos Seda, the mayor of Guánica, a town on Puerto Rico’s southern coast, told the AP that although no major damage was reported there, between five and 10 people remain in a shelter since the 6.4 magnitude quake that hit in January.

No casualties were immediately reported from Saturday’s quake, the USGS told The New York Times. The earthquake briefly knocked out power and resulted in structural damage in Ponce’s downtown, according to Mayor María Meléndez.

“As local officials, we carry out our responsibility as first responders to two simultaneous crises,” Meléndez tweeted.

We are assessing damages of today’s 5.5 earthquake in #Ponce while maintaining necessary COVID-19 precautions.

The health and safety of all Ponceños is our highest priority. As local officials, we carry out our responsibility as first responders to two simultaneous crises. https://t.co/PL0tYfhUFh pic.twitter.com/wG48hca1oE

— Mayita Meléndez (@mayitaalcaldesa) May 2, 2020

The island is under a stay-at-home order until May 25 in response to the novel coronavirus.

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