A significant earthquake, measuring 5.0 in magnitude, struck the northwest part of the Dominican Republic, close to the border with Haiti. This quake, the strongest to hit the country this year, was felt across a wide area, from Montecristi near the border to the capital city, Santo Domingo. Minor damages have been reported, but thankfully, no injuries.
Key Points:
- A 5.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in the northwest Dominican Republic.
- The quake was felt from the border town of Montecristi to Santo Domingo.
- It’s the strongest earthquake in the Dominican Republic this year.
- Minor damage reported in two schools; no injuries reported so far.
- The earthquake took place in a region known for a border dispute between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic experienced a strong earthquake, measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale, on Friday. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake’s center was near Las Matas de Santa Cruz, and it happened 12 miles deep underground.
People in the Dominican Republic felt the shaking strongly. The quake was noticed from Montecristi, a town on the border with Haiti, all the way down to Santo Domingo, the country’s capital. Osiris de León, a Dominican geologist, mentioned that this earthquake was the most powerful one to hit the country this year.
In the town of Villa Vazquez, northwest of the Dominican Republic, Mayor Jenrry Castro said on social media that two schools had minor damage. He also noted that products fell off supermarket shelves. Right now, crews are checking schools and other buildings in Villa Vazquez to see if there is more damage.
This earthquake is significant because it occurred in a region that’s known for ongoing disagreements about the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Fortunately, no damage or injuries have been reported in Haiti.
The island of Hispaniola, which Haiti and the Dominican Republic share, is located on top of the Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault zone. This area is known for having earthquakes, so both countries need to be prepared for these kinds of natural events.
