A magnitude 5.0 earthquake hits the Texas Panhandle

Map showing the epicenter of the earthquake in the Texas Panhandle | Image by Mrmbb33/Facebook

A rare 5.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the Texas Panhandle early Thursday morning, shaking homes across the region and in Oklahoma in what the U.S. Geological Survey said was the strongest earthquake recorded in the Panhandle in more than a century.

The earthquake occurred at approximately 5:21 a.m. local time, and was centered about 24 miles northwest of Miami, Texas, and about 24 miles southeast of Spearman. According to the US Geological Survey, the quake originated at a relatively shallow depth of about 3.5 miles below the Earth’s surface, making it more likely that it would be felt over a wide area.

Residents reported that the quake was felt in Amarillo, Lubbock, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and communities throughout the Texas Panhandle. Hundreds of people submitted the “Did you feel that way?” Reports to the USGS after the earthquake.

No injuries or major damage had been reported as of Thursday morning.

A 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.

Previous largest earthquakes recorded by the USGS in the Panhandle include:

Magnitude 4.9 near the 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 that the 1925 and 1948 earthquakes may have been stronger than originally documented, with magnitudes of 5.4 and 5.2, respectively. However, the current USGS catalog lists Thursday’s quake as the strongest event on record in the area.

Why earthquakes are uncommon in the Panhandle

Earthquakes of this size are unusual in the Texas Panhandle because the region lies far from the Earth’s major tectonic plate boundaries, where most seismic activity occurs.

Scientists say earthquakes in the region can occur when stress causes ancient faults underground to shift. Researchers may also evaluate whether changes in underground pressure associated with oil and gas operations may have contributed to the event, although officials stress it is too early to determine the cause.

Because the quake originated at a shallow depth, residents across much of the southern Plains were exposed to noticeable tremors.

Some residents described waking up to a loud rumbling sound before feeling their homes shaking. Others reported items falling from shelves and temporarily losing their balance during the earthquake, which lasted approximately 20 seconds.

Aftershocks are still possible

The US Geological Survey noted that aftershocks could occur after an earthquake of this size, although none were immediately reported Thursday morning.

The agency also said the overall seismic risk to residents remains relatively low, noting that while most buildings in the affected area are generally resistant to vibrations, some older building structures may be more vulnerable.

Scientists will continue analyzing seismic data in the coming days, and the initial magnitude may be adjusted as additional information becomes available.

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