Texas was hit by a “notable” magnitude 5.1 earthquake on Monday evening, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported, making it the most powerful earthquake in the state’s history.
The quake struck in Martin County, about 21 miles southwest of Ackerly, just before 7:50 p.m.
The quake was initially rated as magnitude 4.8 at a depth of three miles, but was later raised to a magnitude of 5.1 at a depth of 5.2 miles, according to Texas station KXAS. Residents in La Mesa said their homes shook for up to 10 seconds.
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According to the local newspaper, Lubbock Avalanche Journal, the quake was the seventh most powerful in Texas history. Newsweek reached out to the USGS to see how this quake is related to other earthquakes that have hit the state.
The largest earthquake recorded in the state was a magnitude 5.8 earthquake near Valentine in August 1931. The second largest was a magnitude 5.7 earthquake near Marathon in April 1995. It was followed by a magnitude 5.4 earthquake near Mentone in November 2022.
“Notable earthquake, preliminary information: magnitude 5.1, 21 miles west-southwest of Ackerley, Texas,” the USGS posted on social media site X (formerly Twitter) on Monday night. Several X users responded to the post, saying the quake was stronger than usual. “Felt in San Angelo, Texas,” one user wrote. “Biggest earthquake ever.” Another added, “Friend felt it in Schertz, Texas. Candles fell off shelves.”
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Magnitude is a useful measure to describe an earthquake’s intensity. Mild earthquakes, between 2.5 and 5.4 on the Richter scale, may be felt but rarely cause damage, while earthquakes between 5.5 and 6 on the Richter scale are considered moderate and may cause minor damage to buildings. Earthquakes between 6.1 and 6.9 are more likely to cause significant damage in populated areas, while earthquakes of magnitude 8 and above can completely destroy communities near the epicenter. The devastating earthquake that hit Turkey last February, which devastated communities near the Syrian border and killed hundreds, was a magnitude 7.8.
There have been no reports of damage or injuries from the earthquake that struck Texas on Monday.
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Newsweek has reached out via email to Gov. Greg Abbott’s office for further information and comment.
Texas has experienced a surge in earthquakes in recent years, which some experts believe is due to fracking.
Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones told Newsweek that increased pressure near fault lines can cause earthquakes. Pointing to a series of earthquakes in the Permian Basin oil fields (mostly in Texas but also extending into New Mexico), Dr. Jones said that while the quakes are “not a long-term pattern,” they are “almost certainly caused by human activity.”
“Before we started pumping (oil), there were very few earthquakes in this area. Now there are a lot of earthquakes,” she added. “You see this in basically any situation where you actually get an increase in fluid pressure.”
Jones said other human activities, such as building dams, could also cause earthquakes.
Due to their location, earthquakes are common in California and Alaska, but the Midwest can also experience sudden earthquakes from time to time. In November, a magnitude 3.6 earthquake occurred in Standard, Illinois.
