West Texas experienced a magnitude 5.3 earthquake on Saturday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This incident was part of a series of earthquakes affecting the region near the Texas-New Mexico border.
The earthquake hit at 7:47 p.m., located approximately 35 miles south of Whites City, New Mexico, as reported by the USGS. This location is roughly halfway between the Texas cities of Midland and El Paso.
The quake occurred nearly 4 miles beneath the earth’s surface, the survey said.
The USGS indicated that only a few residents were impacted due to the area’s sparse population. They also mentioned that ground failure, landslides, and liquefaction—where soil acts like a liquid—were unlikely.
The temblor was part of a swarm of 46 mostly small earthquakes in the area since early April, USGS data indicates. There’s a 65% chance of a strong aftershock with a week, it said.
NBC affiliate KTSM of El Paso, more than 100 miles west of the area, reported the 5.3 temblor was the strongest of three stronger-than-usual earthquakes to rock the area Saturday night, which also included magnitude 3.4 and 2.9 quakes.
The survey’s “Did You Feel It” list shows responses from the Texas cities of Arlington, Midland, Lubbock and more.
No injuries were reported.
