The Texas Panhandle was struck by a 5.0 magnitude earthquake Thursday morning, the region's strongest recorded earthquake in over 100 years.
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The earthquake was detected in Miami, Texas, according to the United States Geological Survey, and its epicenter was approximately 23 miles south of Spearman. The tremors were felt as far east as Tulsa, Oklahoma, KFOR reported.
According to the USGS earthquake catalog, this was the strongest earthquake recorded in the Texas Panhandle and only the fourth magnitude 4.0 or stronger earthquake to strike the region since 1900.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates a 52 percent chance of 3-magnitude aftershocks later this week.
The agency reported the earthquake occurred at around 5:21 AM, with a depth of 3.5 miles.
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.
Historical records compiled by the National Weather Service suggest that earthquakes in 1925 and 1948 may have been stronger. With approximate magnitudes of 5.4 and 5.2, respectively. However, the USGS lists Thursday's quake as the region's strongest ever instrumentally recorded.
No damages or injuries were immediately reported.
Texas Earthquakes Rarely Cause Damage or Injury
Earthquakes are not terribly uncommon in the Lone Star state.
Texas experiences thousands of earthquakes each year, but they rarely cause much damage.
Dr. Fred Chester, a geology professor at Texas A&M University, said that, due to Texas' location, strong earthquakes are extremely rare.
"Earthquakes can happen just about anywhere in the North America continent. But the risk varies greatly," Chester said. "In general, the risk in Texas is lower overall than most other places in the US. And the risk is lowest along the Gulf Coast. The largest and most devastating earthquakes - with respect to lives, infrastructure and financial loss - occur at tectonic plate boundaries, and Texas is far from plate boundaries."
