Jan. 13, 2006 –– Friday the 13th kicked off with a 4.0 earthquake felt on St. Thomas and St. John. It was recorded at 12:10 a.m.
According to the Puerto Rico Seismic Network's Web site, the earthquake was centered at 18.685 degrees north latitude and 65.038 degrees west longitude. This put it about 24 miles north northwest of the St. Thomas.
It happened 33.8 miles below the sea floor on what is known as the Virgin Islands platform.
The Seismic Network's Web site indicates this was the strongest earthquake of the 40 recorded so far this year.
In 2005, the Seismic Network recorded 1,083 earthquakes, with a 5.0 the strongest recorded. It happened on Jan. 29.
No damage was reported in Friday's earthquake.
Several people reported they heard it, however.
One St. Thomas woman, who did not want to be identified, said she was cooking in her kitchen when she heard the noise.
"As soon as I heard it, I knew it was an earthquake," she said.
Another woman on the North Side was awakened from sleep by the quake.
The Rev. Charles Crespo at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on St. John said he felt the earthquake.
"It was kind of minor. I didn't even jump out of bed," he said.
The North Side woman did.
