Aaron A. Bedoya,
West Texas experienced a series of earthquakes, including a 5.1 magnitude tremor, just days after another quake had hit the region.
Scurry County was rocked Friday morning, July 26, by a reported 5.1-magnitude earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake was initially reported with a 5.0 magnitude.
The 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck 17 kilometers northeast of Hermleigh, Texas, at a depth of 3.3 km, around 8:28 a.m. MT.
Another series of earthquakes followed shortly after around the same area:
- 3.3 magnitude earthquake about 8:40 a.m. MT
- 2.7 magnitude earthquake about 9:44 a.m. MT.
- 2.5 magnitude earthquake about 10:11 a.m. MT.
- 2.9 magnitude earthquake about 1:40 p.m. MT
For the second time this week, residents in West Texas and beyond felt the Earth beneath them shake with powerful earthquakes. At about 9:28 a.m. CT on Friday, a quake with a 5.1 magnitude was detected near Hermleigh, Texas—located approximately 54 miles northwest of Abilene—about 3.3 km below the surface, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Tremors of this strength can cause damages of varying severity to buildings. However, no damages or injuries have been reported. The seismic activity was followed by a 3.2 magnitude aftershock and a 4.4 magnitude shock.
On Monday, the same area was the epicenter of a magnitude 4.9 earthquake, which now ranks as the 8th strongest ever recorded in Texas history. Much like Monday's event, the rumblings from Friday's quake were intense enough to be felt by residents in North Texas, southern Oklahoma, and eastern New Mexico. However, residents as far southeast as The Woodlands and Liberty also reported feeling aftershocks, according to the USGS. The quake now ranks as the 7th strongest in Texas history, replacing a 5.0 earthquake that hit the West Texas town of Mentone in November 2023.
No comments:
Post a Comment