Texas experienced multiple earthquakes within three hours on Monday.
The US Geological Survey recorded three tremors in the western part of the state, the largest measuring 3.6 in magnitude that hit about 35 miles south of Whites City, New Mexico.
Two smaller quakes, located northeast of the largest, registered magnitudes of 2.7 and 2.8.
The swarm of earthquakes also struck one day after the USGS detected a powerful 5.4 magnitude tremor in the same area on Sunday night.
It was followed by two smaller 2.9 magnitude aftershocks, although the USGS warned that more could follow in the coming week.
Monday’s seismic activity was likely aftershocks from the powerful quake that hit the night before.
Texas is known for its extensive use of fracking, which is carried out by blasting large quantities of water, chemicals, and sand into rock formations to crack them open and release the fuels trapped inside.
Fracking is not usually the direct cause of an earthquake, but the process of disposing wastewater produced through fracking that can trigger tremors.
This is a developing story… More updates to come.
The US Geological Survey recorded three tremors in the western part of the state, the largest measuring 3.6 in magnitude
A 2022 study by the University of Texas at Austin concluded that 68 percent of Texas quakes above magnitude 1.5 were ‘highly associated’ with oil and gas production.
Dr Alexandros Savvaidis recently explained how more drilling could end up leading to more seismic activity in the state.
‘Deep injection wells, in particular, are linked to higher-magnitude earthquakes,’ Dr Savvaidis told KMID.
‘Whereas shallower injections seem to be less hazardous in terms of large seismic events.’
The 3.6 magnitude earthquake that hit Monday was detected at the epicenter of Sunday’s powerful 5.4 magnitude tremor.
The smaller quakes hit northeast, along the New Mexico border.
Sunday’s earthquake was felt at least 200 miles away from the epicenter.
Locals in El Paso shared videos of streets shaking amid the tremor.
No fatalities or damage has been reported from the tremors so far, although more than 1,500 people reported feeling its impact.
Only a handful of people reported feeling Monday’s earthquakes.
An assessment from Michigan Tech University showed that people typically do not feel quakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or less.
Those from 2.5 to 5.4 are often felt but only cause minor damage.
