5.8 earthquake slams Puerto Rico, damaging homes

GUANICA, Puerto Rico — A 5.8 magnitude quake struck Puerto Rico before dawn Monday, unleashing small landslides, causing power outages and severely damaging some homes. It was one of the strongest quakes yet to hit the U.S. territory that has been shaking for the past week.


There were no immediate reports of casualties.


The quake was followed by a string of smaller temblors, including another quake measured at magnitude 5 at 10:51 a.m., shaking power lines and frightening residents of southern Puerto Rico who had been waiting outside their homes due to fears the buildings were damaged and unstable.

The seismic activity toppled a beachside rock formation known as Punta Ventana. The natural wonder in the town of Guayanilla, shaped like a round stone window with a stunning view of the ocean, had begun to look vulnerable after smaller temblors started to hit the area a week ago, said Mayor Nelson Torres Yordán. On Monday, he said, “it finally fell.”

The first quake struck at 6:32 a.m. just south of the island at a relatively shallow depth of 6 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Service. There was no tsunami threat, officials said.


In the southern town of Guanica, Mayor Santos Seda said five homes collapsed, but only one of them was inhabited. No injuries were reported. He said 29 other homes were heavily damaged.


Dozens of people in a neighborhood called Hope in Guanica walked around with their phones and yelled out the magnitude of the latest earthquakes as they tried to calm children who were forced to open their presents on Three Kings Day, a religious holiday, on streets and sidewalks.

“This is hell,” said Alberto Rodriguez, 43, whose home collapsed on its side as the smell of gas filled the air. “We haven’t slept … you can’t remain calm here. Guanica is no longer a safe place.”


The New York Times contributed to this report.


Danica Coto is an Associated Press writer.