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Puerto Rico earthquake: Punta Ventana collapses as powerful tremor hits | Puerto Rico earthquake: Punta Ventana collapses as powerful tremor hits |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A popular tourist rock formation in Puerto Rico has collapsed after a strong earthquake shook the island, damaging homes and causing power cuts. | A popular tourist rock formation in Puerto Rico has collapsed after a strong earthquake shook the island, damaging homes and causing power cuts. |
The stone arch, known as Punta Ventana, was destroyed on Monday, when the earthquake hit. | The stone arch, known as Punta Ventana, was destroyed on Monday, when the earthquake hit. |
The 5.8-magnitude quake struck at a depth of 6km (3.7 miles), off the Caribbean island's southern coast. | The 5.8-magnitude quake struck at a depth of 6km (3.7 miles), off the Caribbean island's southern coast. |
No tsunami alerts were issued and no casualties have been reported. | No tsunami alerts were issued and no casualties have been reported. |
There were, however, reports of severe damage to buildings, landslides and widespread power cuts after the earthquake, which struck at 06:32 local time (10:32 GMT). | There were, however, reports of severe damage to buildings, landslides and widespread power cuts after the earthquake, which struck at 06:32 local time (10:32 GMT). |
Pictures of the aftermath, showing homes upended from their foundations and cars crushed under buildings, were posted to social media. | Pictures of the aftermath, showing homes upended from their foundations and cars crushed under buildings, were posted to social media. |
Among them was a picture of Punta Ventana after it had collapsed into the ocean, near the southern town of Guayanilla. | Among them was a picture of Punta Ventana after it had collapsed into the ocean, near the southern town of Guayanilla. |
A local told the Miami Herald that Punta Ventana was "one of the biggest tourism draws of Guayanilla". | A local told the Miami Herald that Punta Ventana was "one of the biggest tourism draws of Guayanilla". |
"Playa Ventana has collapsed. Today our icon rests in everyone's memory," Glidden López, a press officer for Guayanilla council, wrote in a Facebook post. | "Playa Ventana has collapsed. Today our icon rests in everyone's memory," Glidden López, a press officer for Guayanilla council, wrote in a Facebook post. |
In an earlier post, Mr López said the rock formation had been damaged by previous tremors in recent days. | In an earlier post, Mr López said the rock formation had been damaged by previous tremors in recent days. |
Puerto Rico, a US territory of around 3.2 million people, has been rattled by a series of earthquakes since 28 December. Monday's earthquake was the strongest yet, the US Geological Survey said. | Puerto Rico, a US territory of around 3.2 million people, has been rattled by a series of earthquakes since 28 December. Monday's earthquake was the strongest yet, the US Geological Survey said. |
Several aftershocks, including a 5.1-magnitude quake more than four hours later, shook parts of the island. | Several aftershocks, including a 5.1-magnitude quake more than four hours later, shook parts of the island. |
Puerto Rico, situated between the North America and Caribbean tectonic plates, is vulnerable to earthquakes, which have caused significant damage in the past. | Puerto Rico, situated between the North America and Caribbean tectonic plates, is vulnerable to earthquakes, which have caused significant damage in the past. |
The island is still recovering from Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm that devastated parts of the Caribbean in September 2017. In Puerto Rico alone, the hurricane is estimated to have killed 2,975 people and caused $100bn (£75bn) of damage. | The island is still recovering from Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm that devastated parts of the Caribbean in September 2017. In Puerto Rico alone, the hurricane is estimated to have killed 2,975 people and caused $100bn (£75bn) of damage. |
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