5.8 magnitude earthquake rocks Puerto Rico

It's the latest in a string of earthquakes to hit the island's southern region.

January 6, 2020, 7:16 AM

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Puerto Rico early Monday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Service.

A house is seen collapsed on its foundation after an earthquake in Guanica, Puerto Rico, Jan. 6, 2020.
Ricardo Ortiz/Reuters

The quake struck off the southern coast of the U.S. territory in the Caribbean Sea at a shallow depth of 6 kilometers, or under 4 miles. The epicenter was recorded just 8 miles south of Indios, Puerto Rico, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

It's the latest in a string of earthquakes to hit the island's southern region over the past several days.

Angel Vazquez, the emergency management director for the city of Ponce, 17 miles east of Indios, told The Associated Press that the shaking from Monday's quake "lasted a long time."

A Puerto Rican flag hangs from the porch of a home that collapsed on top of parked cars after an earthquake hit Guanica, Puerto Rico, Jan. 6, 2020.
Carlos Giusti/AP

"This is one of the strongest quakes to date since it started shaking on Dec. 28," he said.

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