Dominican Republic Hit By Earthquake, No Reported Damage

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A moderate 5.3-magnitude earthquake rattled the southern coast of the Dominican Republic just before dawn Thursday, resulting in cracks in several buildings but no injuries or evacuations.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was six miles deep (10 kilometers) in San Jose de Ocoa province, 34 miles (55 kilometers) west of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, which shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti.

The pre-dawn temblor sent hundreds of jarred islanders running out of buildings in the Dominican Republic, located near the intersection of the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates.

Civil defense official Alberto Pinales said minor cracks were reported mostly in houses and public buildings in San Jose de Ocoa, also the name of the province's capital city.

Comments

[bwfree3]

10:37 PM on 01/05/2012

these are the biggest antiamerican people going i dont feel sorry for them nor would i help them and yes i have met them .i understand why puerto ricans hate them

[Dzspike1]

10:27 PM on 01/05/2012

No wait lets hire some half baked quake quak so he can say its the oil companies drilling in Ohio that is the cause of it all,. Why heck he can even swear that the 1811 new Madrid was because the oil companies where thinking about all that oil drilling and cracklings!!!!!

[Dzspike1]

10:21 PM on 01/05/2012

Somebody quick stop all the amazing oil and gas drilling there!!!!!!! That must surely be the cause,since we all know that's all earthquakes are fully caused by the oil companies!

[lsd4u32]

09:00 PM on 01/05/2012

oh great tiwh all these cut back on our miltary families and seniors we have more money to send these countries

[Marshall Green]

08:05 PM on 01/05/2012

This is no good. Where will MLB get their future shortstops?

[Adam Dray]

07:48 PM on 01/05/2012

Wow alot of earthquakes already this year, plus other weird things occuring.....for one thing record highs in the central US...got over 50 today when it normally is in the 10's....This is like april weather for us!

[mhagerinteriors]

06:59 PM on 01/05/2012

Will this might worry the country since they were so cold hearted during Haiti's earthquake mess.
Karma for country?

[SGB81]

07:51 PM on 01/05/2012

Funny you say that because The Dominican Republic was the first Country to Aid the Haitians after the earthquake. You might want to do some research before posting a comment like yours.

[SGB81]

07:54 PM on 01/05/2012

You might want to do some research before making a comment like that. The Dominican Republic was actually one of the first countries to aid Haiti after the earthquake. So I really don't see this to be Karma

[mhagerinteriors]

08:21 PM on 01/05/2012

Yea, they offer a little bit of help BUT they would not let people move to their country even though things were drastic in Haiti.

[davidlovingmusic]

06:22 PM on 01/05/2012

I guess some have not been there. Absolutely beautiful place. Sure there are poor neighborhoods as there are here, but if you go to Punta Cana you will never forget it. People I met were gracious and kind. Nothing but positive things to say about it, and I have been there. Sorry Hawaii, but this was where I ate the best pineapple ever. Hope to return someday for a visit.

[phdpamela]

05:59 PM on 01/05/2012

Geez, everyday now. Better start staking out your claim in the bamboo! Safest place to be. A clump of bamboo has such strong roots, the entire thing will stand and hang on by one root, if the dirt falls out from below it. I'm hoping mine has 2-3 roots though..lol.

[hullgush]

05:42 PM on 01/05/2012

If the entire country was destroyed, the damage would have been $ 18.00.

[Al Schrader]

07:14 PM on 01/05/2012

No it's not. We borrowed that away from them decades ago. Now they have Red Bull and Lady Gaga on the radio. Good deal, huh ?

[hullgush]

07:38 PM on 01/05/2012

You are a funny guy, Al. Yeah, GREAT deal.

[feistyredheadct]

04:08 PM on 01/05/2012

Glad no one was hurt but all it could do is help the Dominican Republic. What a GHETTO ISLAND!! Yucky. Very gross place, filthy, dangerous, yucky.

[Ratbert310]

05:56 PM on 01/05/2012

Try not going to the worst places. some of the Island is very beautiful...

[mcgowann]

06:10 PM on 01/05/2012

I guess you couldn't afford to stay at any of the hundreds of fabulous resorts surrounding their coastline. Check out Punta (port) Cana http://www.puntacana.com/

[feistyredheadct]

06:40 PM on 01/05/2012

I can afford to stay anywhere. BUT when I have to "hug" the resort because of crime, I consider that a GHETTO island. My friend went on a Jeep excursion and the guide told him not to worry cause he was carrying a machete in case of thieves. lol I have stayed in Punta Cana, Puerta Plata, and Santa Domingo. Also been to Samana. I've tried it all and it all is disgusting compared to other Caribbean islands.

[lsd4u32]

09:03 PM on 01/05/2012

why not just stay in the usa there are alot of fabulous places right here !

[MORAL SOLUTION]

02:59 PM on 01/05/2012

send in the AID and stoic social workers which the locals chill.

[rosasturtles1]

02:56 PM on 01/05/2012

thank goodness no one was hurt!

[jelun]

02:45 PM on 01/05/2012

Thank God that it appears there are no injuries.

[oleperfessur]

02:28 PM on 01/05/2012

Didn't know they were "fracking" there!