The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on Sunday reported a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, prompting alerts about potential aftershocks and tsunami warnings.
The earthquake occurred early this morning, and although no immediate damage has been reported, local authorities are on high alert.
The USGS provided the following details on the earthquake:
- Magnitude: 4.9
- Location: Approximately 82.9 km (51.4 mi) north of Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Depth: 10 km
Other nearby cities affected include Cruz Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands and several locations in Puerto Rico including Fajardo, Río Grande, and Carolina. The quake was felt distinctly in these areas, although no injuries have been reported.
Officials from the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) are monitoring the situation closely. In the event of a tsunami, additional alerts will be issued through AlertVI, a local emergency notification service.
