Written by on . Last updated September 28th, 2026.

A MAG-4.8 earthquake struck under land 18 kilometer from La Romana in Dominican Republic in the late afternoon of Sunday September 27th, 2026. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. Another country near the epicenter is Puerto Rico.

Felt the earthquake? Share this article: Share on Facebook Tweet Submit to Reddit Share on LinkedIn

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Dominican Republic, 18 kilometer (11 mi) north of La Romana. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 119 km.

Date and Time: Sep 27, 2026 05:49PM (Santo Domingo Time)
- Sep 27, 2026 21:49 Universal Time.
Location: 18 km north of La Romana, Dominican Republic.
Coordinates 18°35'13"N 68°59'55"W.
Map: Map of area around epicenter.
Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude: MAG 4.8
Detected by 18 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.11 .
Depth: 119 km (74 mi)
An intermediate depth.
Tsunami Risk: Tsunami very unlikely
Tsunami's are usually caused by MAG-6.5+ earthquakes, less than 100km shallow, and with an epicenter under sea. Neither of this seems to be the case.
Always stay cautious - More info here.

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.

La Romana in La Romana, Dominican Republic is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 18 kilometer (11 mi) north of La Romana.

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Santo Domingo is located 95 km to the west. La Romana is located 18 km to the south. Santo Domingo Este is located 91 km to the west.

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below.

Overview of nearby places

Distance Place
18 km (11 mi)
S from epicenter
La Romana

La Romana, Dominican Republic.
20 km (12 mi)
N from epicenter
Santa Cruz de El Seibo

El Seíbo, Dominican Republic.
31 km (19 mi)
E from epicenter
Salvaleón de Higüey

La Altagracia, Dominican Republic.
34 km (21 mi)
NW from epicenter
Hato Mayor del Rey

Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic.
36 km (22 mi)
SW from epicenter
San Pedro de Macorís

San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic.
43 km (27 mi)
W from epicenter
Quisqueya

San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic.
63 km (39 mi)
E from epicenter
Punta Cana

La Altagracia, Dominican Republic.
65 km (40 mi)
W from epicenter
Boca Chica

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
69 km (43 mi)
W from epicenter
Bayaguana

Monte Plata, Dominican Republic.
86 km (53 mi)
W from epicenter
Monte Plata

Monte Plata, Dominican Republic.
91 km (57 mi)
W from epicenter
Santo Domingo Este

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
93 km (58 mi)
NW from epicenter
Sabana Grande de Boyá

Monte Plata, Dominican Republic.
95 km (59 mi)
W from epicenter
Villa Francisca

Nacional, Dominican Republic.
95 km (59 mi)
W from epicenter
Santo Domingo

Nacional, Dominican Republic.
95 km (59 mi)
W from epicenter
Ciudad Nueva

Nacional, Dominican Republic.
96 km (60 mi)
W from epicenter
Villa Consuelo

Nacional, Dominican Republic.
101 km (63 mi)
W from epicenter
Bella Vista

Nacional, Dominican Republic.
106 km (66 mi)
W from epicenter
Santo Domingo Oeste

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
111 km (69 mi)
W from epicenter
Bajos de Haina

San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic.
118 km (73 mi)
W from epicenter
San Cristóbal

San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic.
124 km (77 mi)
W from epicenter
Villa Altagracia

San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic.
126 km (78 mi)
NW from epicenter
Nagua

María Trinidad Sánchez, Dominican Republic.
132 km (82 mi)
NW from epicenter
Cotuí

Sánchez Ramírez, Dominican Republic.
145 km (90 mi)
W from epicenter
Baní

Peravia, Dominican Republic.
154 km (96 mi)
W from epicenter
Bonao

Monseñor Nouel, Dominican Republic.
154 km (96 mi)
NW from epicenter
San Francisco de Macorís

Duarte, Dominican Republic.
159 km (99 mi)
W from epicenter
San José de Ocoa

San José de Ocoa, Dominican Republic.
173 km (107 mi)
NW from epicenter
Salcedo

Hermanas Mirabal, Dominican Republic.
176 km (109 mi)
NW from epicenter
Concepción de La Vega

La Vega, Dominican Republic.
182 km (113 mi)
W from epicenter
Jarabacoa

La Vega, Dominican Republic.
184 km (114 mi)
NW from epicenter
Moca

Espaillat, Dominican Republic.
184 km (114 mi)
W from epicenter
Azua

Azua, Dominican Republic.
187 km (116 mi)
W from epicenter
Constanza

La Vega, Dominican Republic.
195 km (121 mi)
E from epicenter
Aguadilla

Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
197 km (122 mi)
NW from epicenter
Tamboril

Santiago, Dominican Republic.
201 km (125 mi)
E from epicenter
Mayagüez

Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
203 km (126 mi)
NW from epicenter
Santiago de los Caballeros

Santiago, Dominican Republic.
211 km (131 mi)
NW from epicenter
Monte Llano

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
221 km (137 mi)
NW from epicenter
Río Grande

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
222 km (138 mi)
NW from epicenter
Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
225 km (140 mi)
NW from epicenter
Villa Bisonó

Santiago, Dominican Republic.
226 km (140 mi)
W from epicenter
Santa Cruz de Barahona

Barahona, Dominican Republic.
235 km (146 mi)
E from epicenter
Yauco

Yauco, Puerto Rico.
236 km (147 mi)
NW from epicenter
Esperanza

Valverde, Dominican Republic.
236 km (147 mi)
W from epicenter
San Juan de la Maguana

San Juan, Dominican Republic.
241 km (150 mi)
E from epicenter
Arecibo

Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
243 km (151 mi)
NW from epicenter
Mao

Valverde, Dominican Republic.
256 km (159 mi)
W from epicenter
Neiba

Baoruco, Dominican Republic.
259 km (161 mi)
E from epicenter
Ponce

Ponce, Puerto Rico.
260 km (162 mi)
E from epicenter
Barceloneta

Barceloneta, Puerto Rico.
265 km (165 mi)
W from epicenter
Sabaneta

Santiago Rodríguez, Dominican Republic.
265 km (165 mi)
E from epicenter
Manatí

Manatí, Puerto Rico.
276 km (171 mi)
E from epicenter
Vega Baja

Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.
297 km (185 mi)
E from epicenter
Levittown

Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.
Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.

Shaking reported by 185 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 185 people have reported shaking in 26 places, all within Dominican Republic.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

  • Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: 114 people.
  • El Carril, San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic: 21 people.
  • Otra Banda, La Altagracia, Dominican Republic: 11 people.
  • Santiago, Santiago, Dominican Republic: 10 people.
  • Samaná, Samaná, Dominican Republic: 2 people.
  • La Romana, La Romana, Dominican Republic: 2 people.
  • Ramón Santana, San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic: 2 people.
  • Los Llanos, San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic: 2 people.
  • Jarabacoa, La Vega, Dominican Republic: 2 people.
  • San Cristóbal, San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic: 2 people.

3 Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 3 smaller aftershocks. A 3.8 magnitude earthquake hit 13 hrs later 36 km (22 mi) south-east of this earthquake.

Before this earthquake struck, 3 smaller foreshocks occurred. A 4.2 magnitude earthquake hit 12 hrs earlier nearby.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Classification Magnitude When Where
Foreshock M 3.1 2 days earlier
Sep 26, 2026 12:05AM (Santo Domingo Time)
95 km (59 mi)
NE from Main Shock.
Foreshock M 4.2 12 hrs earlier
Sep 27, 2026 06:07AM (Santo Domingo Time)
74 km (46 mi)
W from Main Shock.
Foreshock M 3.1 3 hrs earlier
Sep 27, 2026 03:09PM (Santo Domingo Time)
71 km (44 mi)
S from Main Shock.
Main Shock
This Earthquake
M 4.8 Sep 27, 2026 05:49PM
(Santo Domingo Time)
-
Aftershock M 3.4 3 hrs later
Sep 27, 2026 09:05PM (Santo Domingo Time)
36 km (22 mi)
SE from Main Shock.
Aftershock M 3.4 10 hrs later
Sep 28, 2026 03:35AM (Santo Domingo Time)
68 km (42 mi)
SE from Main Shock.
Aftershock M 3.8 13 hrs later
Sep 28, 2026 06:54AM (Santo Domingo Time)
36 km (22 mi)
SE from Main Shock.
Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.

More earthquakes coming?

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since September 18th, 2026, when a 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit 228 km (142 mi) further east. An even stronger magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck on January 7th, 2020.

In total, 49 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.8 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 2 months.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

It is very unlikely that this eartquake will cause any tsunami's. The reported magnitude is lower than the MAG-6.5 strength required to cause any earthquakes. In addition, this earthquake was not very shallow and appears to have occurred under land. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor Under Sea? MAG-6.5 or stronger? Shallow depth?
Explanation Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami. Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami.
MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes.
MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.
Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake This earthquake appears to have struck on land near a coastal area (19 km from the sea). Not this earthquake.
This earthquake had a magnitude of 4.8. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.
Not this earthquake.
This earthquake occurred at a depth of 119 km (74 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 28/09/26 22:38 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.

  1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000ty0q
  2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20260927_0000285
  3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
  4. Google Maps: Static API
  5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

Share this article: Share on Facebook Tweet Submit to Reddit Share on LinkedIn