Earthquake swarm sparks panic as shockwaves are felt from Nevada to California

Earthquake swarm sparks panic as shockwaves are felt from Nevada to California

STACY LIBERATORE

Residents across Nevada and parts of California were startled on Wednesday after a series of earthquakes sent shockwaves across hundreds of miles.

At least four notable tremors were detected near Carson City, Nevada, ranging from 2.6 to 4.8 magnitude.

The swarm struck at 10.23am PT (1.23pm ET) near Silver Springs, Nevada, an area that has experienced an uptick in seismic activity in recent weeks.

One local posted on Facebook: 'It's the same area that's been rocking us the past week. It's not stopping; I fear volcanic activity. 

There are volcanic features in this region, but officials say they are generally considered extinct or dormant rather than active, immediate threats.

The US Geological Survey reported that shaking was felt as far west as areas outside Sacramento, California. One Californian shared on Facebook that they felt shaking in Colfax, which is about 140 miles west of the Nevada epicenter.

Residents across western Nevada reported feeling the ground shake for several seconds after the 4.8 magnitude quake, which followed a cluster of smaller tremors recorded minutes earlier.

One local shared on Facebook: 'Our house shook pretty good. It lasted longer than most do.' Another added: 'Here in Yerington, it felt stronger than the last.'

Many locals reported feeling the swarm on Wednesday, with the first significant quake, a 3.5 magnitude, hitting around 10.22am PT.

'Our house shook, then started a following motion, which sure does excite the dogs,' one Nevada resident shared on Facebook. 

Silver Lake lies in the Basin and Range Province, a vast region stretching across much of the western US.

In this area, the Earth’s crust is gradually being stretched and thinned, creating frequent faulting and seismic activity.

As the crust pulls apart, fractures known as faults form, and movement along these faults produces earthquakes.

The epicenter is also located in the Walker Lane seismic zone, a highly active area where tectonic plates pull apart land, creating numerous strike-slip faults.

The USGS also detected dozens of smaller earthquakes amid the swarm.

Multiple earthquakes in Silver Lake can be caused by several factors, but the most common reason is movement along faults, which are fractures in the Earth’s crust where blocks of rock slip past each other.