~12,500 studentsUPR Mayagüez Emergency Communications / Puerto Rico Seismic Network
Confirmed Timeline
Alert Sequence
4 messages in sequence
Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.
INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction·408 chars
ALERTA UPR: A las 4:24 AM ocurrió un terremoto de magnitud 6.4 con epicentro al sur de Puerto Rico. Por seguridad, se suspenden todas las actividades académicas y administrativas en todos los recintos del sistema UPR hasta nuevo aviso. Si está en un edificio, salga de manera ordenada y manténgase alejado de estructuras dañadas. Espere por instrucciones adicionales. Monitoree la Red Sísmica de Puerto Rico.
This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.
The earthquake struck at 4:24 a.m. AST (08:24:26 UTC) on January 7, 2020 — before the start of the academic day
Spanish is the primary language of instruction and emergency notification across the UPR system
The [Puerto Rico Seismic Network (Red Sísmica de Puerto Rico)](http://redsismica.uprm.edu/english/) is housed at the UPR Mayagüez campus and was the authoritative source for aftershock information
UPDATEWebsite
Approximate reconstruction·483 chars
ACTUALIZACIÓN: Las clases en el Sistema UPR permanecen suspendidas. Cuadrillas de Edificios y Terrenos están realizando inspecciones de seguridad en todos los recintos. Los recintos de Mayagüez, Ponce, Cayey y Río Piedras están bajo evaluación estructural prioritaria. El Gobernador ha declarado un estado de emergencia. Se han reportado réplicas significativas; permanezca alejado de estructuras dañadas y de los acantilados costeros mientras se evalúa cualquier amenaza de tsunami.
This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.
An initial tsunami advisory was issued and later canceled by the National Tsunami Warning Center on January 7
Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced declared a state of emergency on January 7, 2020
The Mayagüez and Ponce campuses, closest to the epicenter, required the most intensive structural inspections
UPDATEEmail+4d
Approximate reconstruction·348 chars
ALERTA: A las 8:54 AM se registró una réplica de magnitud 5.9 al sur de Indios. Edificios previamente inspeccionados deben ser reinspeccionados antes de su uso. Las clases continuarán suspendidas en todos los recintos del Sistema UPR. Si siente movimiento, agáchese, cúbrase y agárrese. No regrese a los edificios hasta recibir autorización formal.
This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.
The January 11, 2020 M 5.9 was the largest aftershock of the sequence and caused additional structural damage
'Agáchese, cúbrase y agárrese' (Drop, Cover, Hold On) is the standard Spanish-language earthquake response phrase used by Puerto Rico Seismic Network
After this aftershock, several recently inspected buildings had to be reinspected from scratch
FOLLOW-UPEmail
Approximate reconstruction·415 chars
ANUNCIO: El Sistema UPR comenzará la reanudación escalonada de clases. Los edificios que han pasado inspección estructural ASCE/SEI volverán a abrir; los que no, permanecerán cerrados. Algunas clases se moverán temporalmente a salones inspeccionados o se ofrecerán bajo carpas o espacios al aire libre. Cada recinto publicará su propio calendario. Las réplicas continúan; cumpla con todas las precauciones sísmicas.
This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.
ASCE/SEI (American Society of Civil Engineers / Structural Engineering Institute) post-earthquake building safety evaluations were applied campus-wide
Open-air and tented instruction was used at some Puerto Rico universities for weeks after the earthquakes — students attended class in parking lots and lawns
The staged reopening continued for weeks; some UPR Ponce-area buildings did not reopen until later in the spring semester
01The M 6.4 mainshock struck at 4:24 a.m. AST on January 7, 2020 — before the academic day began — sparing UPR a daytime evacuation but leaving night-shift staff to respond
02UPR Mayagüez houses the Puerto Rico Seismic Network (Red Sísmica) — the territory's seismic-monitoring authority — making this a rare case of a university monitoring an earthquake that closes the university itself
03All 11 UPR campuses suspended classes system-wide following the mainshock and aftershocks
04A M 5.9 aftershock on January 11 forced reinspection of buildings already cleared, extending the closure by weeks
05Spring 2020 classes resumed in stages with ASCE/SEI structural inspections required for each building; some classes were held outdoors or under tents
06FEMA later obligated tens of millions of dollars for repairs to Puerto Rico's public universities — a federal-aid pathway available because of Puerto Rico's territorial status
Outcome
The M 6.4 earthquake on January 7, 2020, killed one person in Ponce (a 73-year-old man crushed by a wall in his home) and injured at least nine others. Two-thirds of Puerto Rico lost power. The Government of Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency. All public and private schools and universities were closed. The University of Puerto Rico system suspended classes; the Mayagüez and Ponce campuses, closest to the epicenter, were inspected for structural damage. Aftershocks — including a M 5.9 on January 11 and M 5.2 on January 15 — kept the system closed for weeks. Spring 2020 classes resumed in stages beginning January 20 with structural inspections required for each building before reoccupation. FEMA later obligated millions of dollars for repairs to Puerto Rico's universities. The Puerto Rico Seismic Network at UPR Mayagüez logged thousands of aftershocks and provided real-time public guidance throughout the sequence.