Puerto Rico earthquake destroys iconic arch Punta Ventana and sparks fears ‘biggest quake in a century’ is overdue

Aftershocks were apparently felt “for up to nine months” following the quake — and one that happened less than two weeks later “was strong enough to knock down more buildings.”

Now, more than a century later, locals fear they’re overdue for the “biggest quake in a century.”

Local doctor Sindia Alvarado said her “entire family woke up screaming” and that she thought her house “was going to crack in half.”

Another local, Jose Francisco Benitez, told the AP people quickly panicked and realized large boulders were obstructing the only highway heading north, to the capital of San Juan.

“There was a state of panic. There were even people in their underwear walking around the hotel,” he said. “I have never felt anything like this. It was like a giant grabbed our room and shook it.”

Puerto Rico lies in a fault zone and the shallow quakes were occurring along three faults in Puerto Rico’s southwest region: Lajas Valley, Montalva Point and the Guayanilla Canyon.

The director of Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network, Victor Huerfano, said the quakes overall come as the North American plate and the Caribbean plate squeezes Puerto Rico.

He added it’s not clear when the earthquakes would stop — or if bigger quakes would come.