Texas Experiences One Of Its Strongest Earthquakes Ever, Felt Across Multiple Regions

Early this morning, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) registered one of the strongest earthquakes in Texas history, which was felt from West Texas to North Texas.

The USGS reported that the tremors originated near the town of Hermleigh, Texas, about 54 miles northwest of Abilene, occurring at 10:38 p.m., 10:46 p.m., and 11:56 p.m. The first earthquake was the strongest, registering a magnitude of 4.9 on the Richter scale. This was followed by an aftershock of magnitude 4.4 just minutes later and a subsequent magnitude 3.1 shock. All the quakes occurred approximately 4.8 miles beneath the Earth’s surface.

According to the Chron, this would be the eighth strongest earthquake in the state’s history. The strongest was the 1921 Valentine earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.6 to 6.4 on the Richter scale.

A 4.9 magnitude earthquake is classified as a light earthquake, which typically results in noticeable shaking of indoor objects, rattling noises, and can be felt by most people in the affected area, but significant damage is rare. Residents across north and West Texas reported feeling the quakes, with USGS data indicating the tremors were felt as far south as Austin, nearly 200 miles southeast, as well as in southern Oklahoma and eastern New Mexico.

West Texas is the area with the most seismic activity, with El Paso at the highest risk for earthquakes. While Texas doesn’t typically experience strong earthquakes, the region has seen an increase in the number of quakes in recent years, a trend that has been attributed to fracking activities.