EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A 4.9 magnitude earthquake could be felt in El Paso a little after 10 p.m. on Feb. 14.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake struck about 30 miles northwest of Toyah, Texas in Reeves County where three smaller aftershocks also occurred within minutes of the first.
The website Earthquake Track has this most recent quake tied for the sixth strongest in Texas history, with the last notable earthquake registering magnitude a 5.2 near the same area in November 2023.
Scientists say the number of earthquakes in West Texas have been increasing over the past decade and attribute the cause to gas and oil extraction.
“The number of earthquakes in Texas a couple of years ago, the number of magnitude 3 (earthquakes) was greater than California and it was because of induced seismicity. We call it induced seismicity from injection, from fracking,” UTEP professor and seismologist Aaron Velasco said.
“It’s injection of wastewater created by the process of fracking. It wasn’t fracking itself. It weakens the faults and actually releases stresses that are there already. You’re not creating new stress. You’re actually cracking the rock, and you’re trying to do that so that you can get all the oil and gas that’s naturally in the ground, in the rock. You can create earthquakes that way,” he said.
To counter the frequency of seismic activity in the region, the Texas Railroad Commission moved to suspend all disposal well permits that inject oil and gas waste into deep strata within the boundaries of the Northern Culberson Reeves Seismic Response Area. That went into effect in 2023.
This came after seven earthquakes struck in northern Culberson and Reeves counties with magnitudes ranging from 5.2 to 3.9.
Velasco said while Borderland residents may continue to feel shocks from earthquakes that strike hundreds of miles away, there is no immediate need for fear – but it also doesn’t hurt to be prepared especially considering a fault line runs through El Paso.
“Earthquakes that are happening in West Texas, even though we’re feeling them, don’t necessarily present a hazard here. Even if they’re larger, move to magnitude 7 out there, it won’t necessarily cause damage here in El Paso. So, do not panic about that but be prepared. It’s the bottom line. Be prepared for any natural disaster,” Velasco said.