Dominican Republic: Magnitude-5.4 earthquake occurs in North Atlantic Ocean at around 14:30 Dec. 22

A magnitude-5.4 earthquake occurred in the North Atlantic Ocean, near the Dominican Republic, at around 14:30 Dec. 22. The epicenter was about 51 km (32 miles) northeast of Miches. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 7 km (4 miles), and light shaking was probably felt in some eastern parts of the country. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible where shaking occurred.