A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Dominican Republic early on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. The quake occurred at 5:23 a.m. (local time) with its epicenter in the Caribbean Sea, approximately 40.8 km east of Mano Juan, on Saona Island, at a depth of 164.8 kilometers.
The tremor was also felt in several areas of Puerto Rico, though no tsunami alerts were issued, and no damage or casualties have been reported so far.
Authorities from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Seismology Center at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) confirmed the quake’s magnitude and ruled out any immediate tsunami risk.
In Puerto Rico, the National Weather Service briefly considered issuing a tsunami watch due to sea-level fluctuations and unusual currents. However, the alert was soon lifted with no significant consequences reported.
What made this strong earthquake cause little to no damage?
Because the earthquake originated deep underground (over 160 km), the seismic energy was largely dissipated before reaching the surface. This significantly reduced its destructive potential. Additionally, there were no reports of structural damage or prolonged alerts, and no tsunami formed, preventing any major impact in affected areas.
