Did you feel it? On Friday, February 14th, at around 11:23 p.m., a 5.0 magnitude earthquake struck West Texas, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, making it one of the strongest in Texas history.
This earthquake has been recorded as the sixth most powerful earthquake in the history of Texas. Scientists have warned for years about the rise in earthquake occurrences in West Texas due to the increased fracking in the region.
The earthquake hit close to the border of Culberson and Reeves counties at 11:23 p.m. CST, with an epicenter about 33 miles northwest of Toyah, Texas. Three mild aftershocks were also felt within minutes of the first quake. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported so far, and economic losses are also expected to be minimal.
According to the geological survey, the tremors were felt in nearby towns and varied from mild to moderate, affecting around 950,000 people. The earthquake was also felt by residents in Texas as far west as El Paso and in some cities in eastern New Mexico.
Friday’s earthquake has been recorded as one of the sixth strongest earthquakes in the history of Texas, according to the website Earthquake Track. Texas has also had two magnitude 5.1 earthquakes in the past six months, which are tied for the fifth strongest in state history.
In the last few years, there has been an increase in the frequency and intensity of earthquakes in West Texas. Scientists believe that the increase in earthquakes in the Permian Basin in West Texas is due to the rise in hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, in the region. This area is the top producer of oil and gas in the state. According to scientists, injecting water into the ground for fracking increases fluid pressures in faults, which can cause more earthquakes in oil fields.
Since 2000, the Permian Basin has seen a significant increase in seismic activity, possibly due to high ground drainage of wastewater generated as a result of fracking. This was revealed in a 2021 study by scientists from the USGS and the University of Texas.
Earthquakes as strong as Friday’s, however, are rare in Texas. Some of the earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or greater recorded in the last five years are:
● 5.4 magnitude earthquake in Reeves County on November 16, 2022.
● 5.2 magnitude earthquake in Reeves County on November 8, 2023.
● 5.2 magnitude earthquake in Martin County on December 16, 2022.
● 5.1 magnitude earthquake in Fisher County on July 26, 2024.
● 5.1 magnitude earthquake in Martin County on September 17, 2024.
● 5.0 magnitude earthquake in Reeves County on March 26, 2020.
● 5.0 magnitude earthquake in Culberson County on February 14, 2025.
(Credits: The Texas Tribune & Mrt)
