Puerto Rico Hit by Strongest Quake in Years

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck near Puerto Rico late Monday, rousing and scaring many from their sleep in the US territory. The US Geological Survey says the quake struck 49 miles off the island's northwest coast at a shallow depth of 6 miles. Two aftershocks, of 4.7- and 4.6-magnitude, hit within 20 minutes in the same region at the same depth. Kiara Hernández, spokeswoman for the island's Emergency Management Agency, tells the AP that there were no immediate reports of damage and that there was no risk of tsunami. She says crews will be inspecting buildings to ensure their safety. "We will know this information little by little," she says.

Hernández says emergency management officials were already on alert for the approaching Tropical Depression Karen and communicated quickly with mayors and others across the island to check on any damage. The National Guard also had been activated for the storm, and schools and government offices remained closed as heavy rains were forecast for Puerto Rico on Tuesday, with warnings of possible flooding and landslides. The quake was felt across Puerto Rico and was the strongest to hit the island in recent years. (More Puerto Rico stories.)