The U.S. Geological Survey reported that a 5.5-magnitude earthquake earlier today was recorded off the southern Puerto Rico waters shaking the city of Ponce. 

The geological survey agency said that other earthquakes, which ranged from 3.4 to 4.9 on the Richter scale, have also hit the same area. On the other hand, there was no tsunami advisory issued.

According to Ponce Mayor Maria Melendez, through a CNN report, the earthquake damaged several buildings in the city. Officials, the mayor added, are currently assessing the calamity's effects and, at the same time, checking on the citizens.


5.5-Magnitude Earthquake Affected Other Areas 

On its Twitter account, the Electric Energy Authority said that its EcoElectrica power plant was offline. However, the crew was already working on the restoration of the service. There was no exact number, though, as to how many residents had lost the electricity service.

Gov. Wanda Vasquez Garced said via Twitter, the Puerto Rican Water and Sewage Authority also made an inspection on the three dams on the island, and it did not find any damage.

"We emphasize the importance of remaining calm," she tweeted in Spanish and urged everyone to remain using a face mask when outside the home.

The governor also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump and the FEMA officials, saying Puerto Rico will "have all the resources it needs." Meanwhile, Javy Hernandez, Mayor of Vilalba, said that the city doesn't have any fatality and is indeed "blessed."

In Guayanilla, according to Mayor Nelson Torres Yortdan, there were no reports of structural or road damages. 

According to Guanica Mayor Santos Seda, there were no significant damages reported in the area so far, as well, but noted that from up to 10 people have stayed in a shelter since the January 6.4-magnitude earthquake.


Started the Year with a Strong Quake

In January this year, USA Today released a report stating that over 950 quakes and aftershocks were recorded on the island since December 31 last year though many of them were weak and almost not felt. 

Over 500 of these recorded shakes, though, had been of magnitude 2. The strongest recorded was of magnitude 6.4 that injured at least nine and killed one person and resulted in a power outage.

Since this earthquake that had the strongest magnitude so far, Puerto Rico has been hit by an "earthquake swarm," a term that experts use to describe a series of earthquakes. This is different from the usual pattern of one major earthquake, which is followed by aftershocks. 

University of Southern California seismologist Jon Vidale said that they didn't understand well the reason why the larger earthquakes continued for a while. He added that perhaps it was the fault system's hydrology that has something to do with the "slow slip on faults in the area."

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the tectonics recorded in Puerto Rico is dominated by the merging between the Caribbean and the North American plates with this island being pressed between them. 

To Puerto Rico's northern part, the North American plate "subducts" underneath the Caribbean plate along the trench of Puerto Rico.


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