The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake at a depth of 10 km roughly 60 km to the southeast of the British Virgin Isles, slightly before 2.25 pm local time (slightly before 6.25 pm GMT) on Wednesday 7 October 2020. This was a moderate quake, as well as some way offshore, and there are no reports of any casualties or serious damage, though the event was felt over a large area, with people reporting feeling it in both the British and US Virgin Islands, as well as Puerto Rico, and Saint Martin and Saint Kitts islands.
The Virgin Islands are located at the northeastern fringe of the Caribbean Tectonic Plate. The Atlantic Plate (strictly speaking, an extension of the South American Plate which runs to the northeast of the Caribbean) is being subducted beneath this. The subduction of the Atlantic Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate is not a smooth process, with the two plates constantly sticking together then breaking apart as the tectonic pressure builds up, causing Earthquakes in the process, though since the boundary between the two plates is some way to the north and east of the islands, Earthquakes in this area tend to be both deep and offshore, which lessens their destructive potential.
Witness
accounts of quakes can help geologists to understand these events and
the rock structures that cause them. If you felt this quake (or if you
were in the area but did not, which is also useful information) you can
report it to the USGS here.
See also...
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