Powerful Earthquake Strikes Now — Live Magnitude, Epicenter & Safety Updates

Updated at 09:30 UTC, 17 Nov 2025 A shallow magnitude-4.5 earthquake struck just northwest of Puerto Plata on the Dominican Republic’s north coast at 15:49 local time Sunday, rattling homes across Luperón, Villa Isabela and parts of Santiago but causing no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries. Key details • Epicentre: 19.91° N, 71.03° W • Depth: 0.7 km (very shallow) • Felt radius: ~65 km—light to weak shaking in Santiago de los Caballeros (pop. 1.2 m) • Alerts: No tsunami warning issued Why this quake matters now Shallow quakes transmit stronger surface waves; even a mid-4-magnitude event can topple unsecured objects and crack masonry when it occurs less than 1 km below ground. Sunday’s tremor follows a week of moderate global seismicity that included a M4.9 off Santiago, Panama and a M4.4 in China’s Xinjiang region. Ground shaking felt across Puerto Plata province • Luperón (7 km): residents reported brief, jolting motion. • Villa Isabela (11 km): pictures fell from walls; no structural damage. • Puerto Plata city (38 km): many people evacuated buildings as a precaution. • Santiago (61 km): slight swaying of high-rise floors noted. Latest earthquake activity today According to USGS and regional networks, more than 30 tremors of magnitude 3+ have occurred worldwide in the past 24 hours, including: – M5.4 offshore Sulawesi, Indonesia – M4.0 south-east of Denpasar, Bali – Cluster of micro-quakes near Mt. Rainier, Washington, USA. What to do when shaking begins 1. Drop to your hands and knees. 2. Cover head and neck under sturdy furniture or with arms. 3. Hold on until the shaking stops. 4. Afterward, inspect gas lines and electrical wiring before re-entering buildings. 5. Keep a “go-bag” with water, flashlight, portable charger and a copy of vital documents. Outlook Seismologists do not expect major aftershocks, but minor tremors remain possible over the next 24–48 hours. Authorities urge residents to review emergency plans while power and structural inspections continue. Stay informed For real-time updates, follow the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and local emergency management channels; enable smartphone alerting apps to receive push notifications the moment seismic waves are detected.