Puerto Rico’s temblor before the storm

Epicenter of the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Puerto Rico Monday. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey Epicenter of the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Puerto Rico Monday. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey They were bracing for another storm, a tempest not nearly as powerful as the monster cyclone that devastated their island two years ago-but a storm nevertheless. But before Tropical Storm Karen began to drench Puerto Rico on Tuesday with heavy rains, spawning mudslides and power outages, another natural disaster would rattle the nerves of residents still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Maria in 2017. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck 49 miles off the U.S. territory's northwest coast on Monday, jarring many people from their sleep. Three aftershocks, including a magnitude 4.7, hit within less than an hour, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. No significant damage was reported, and after the quake, residents quickly refocused their attention on the approaching Karen.