A magnitude 4.2 earthquake got the attention of some Virgin Islands residents when it shook briefly at 10:04 a.m. Saturday.
“It’s pretty much common,” said Jose Martinez, a geologist at the Puerto Rico Seismic Network in Mayaguez.
No tsunami alerts were posted.
The earthquake was centered at 19 degrees north latitude and 64.9 degrees west longitude. Martinez couldn’t say exactly how close it was to St. John or St. Thomas but said it was about 46 miles north-northwest of Road Town in the British Virgin Islands.
It was located about 28 miles below the ocean floor.
Saturday’s earthquake was fifth since last Saturday listed as significant on the Seismic Network website. Saturday’s was the strongest, with the weakest at magnitude 2.36 at 18 degrees north latitude and 66.1 degrees west longitude.
