A rare magnitude 5.0 earthquake rattled the Texas Panhandle early Thursday morning, shaking homes across the region and into Oklahoma in what the U.S. Geological Survey said is the strongest earthquake recorded in the Panhandle in more than a century.
The earthquake struck at approximately 5:21 a.m. local time, with an epicenter about 24 miles northwest of Miami, Texas, and roughly 24 miles south-southeast of Spearman. According to the USGS, the quake originated at a relatively shallow depth of about 3.5 miles below the surface, making it more likely to be felt across a wide area.
Residents reported feeling the tremor in Amarillo, Lubbock, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and communities throughout the Texas Panhandle. Hundreds of people submitted “Did You Feel It?” reports to the USGS following the earthquake.
No injuries or significant damage had been reported as of Thursday morning.
Historic Event for the Texas Panhandle
According to the USGS earthquake catalog, Thursday’s magnitude 5.0 event is the strongest earthquake recorded in the Texas Panhandle since at least 1900 and only the fourth earthquake of magnitude 4.0 or greater documented in the region during that period.
The previous largest earthquakes recorded by the USGS in the Panhandle include:
- Magnitude 4.9 near Panhandle in Carson County on July 30, 1925.
- Magnitude 4.5 north of Dalhart on March 12, 1948.
- Magnitude 4.5 northeast of Perryton on February 15, 1974.
Some historical records compiled by the National Weather Service estimate the 1925 and 1948 earthquakes may have been stronger than originally documented, with estimated magnitudes of 5.4 and 5.2, respectively. However, the current USGS catalog lists Thursday’s quake as the strongest instrumentally recorded event in the region.
Why Earthquakes Are Uncommon in the Panhandle
Earthquakes of this magnitude are unusual in the Texas Panhandle because the region lies far from the boundaries of the Earth’s major tectonic plates, where most seismic activity occurs.
Scientists say earthquakes in the area can occur when stress causes ancient underground faults to shift. Researchers may also evaluate whether changes in underground pressure associated with oil and gas operations contributed to the event, though officials emphasized it is too early to determine a cause.
Because the earthquake originated at a shallow depth, residents across a large portion of the southern Plains experienced noticeable shaking.
Some residents described being awakened by a loud rumble before feeling their homes shake. Others reported items falling from shelves and temporarily losing their balance during the approximately 20-second tremor.
Aftershocks Remain Possible
The USGS noted that aftershocks can occur following an earthquake of this size, although none had been immediately reported Thursday morning.
The agency also said the overall seismic risk to the population remains relatively low, noting that while most buildings in the affected area are generally resistant to earthquake shaking, some older masonry structures may be more vulnerable.
Scientists will continue analyzing seismic data in the coming days, and the preliminary magnitude could be adjusted as additional information becomes available.
Provided by Dallas Express
