Oklahoma Rattled by Shallow 5.1 Magnitude Earthquake

Oklahoma Rattled by Shallow 5.1 Magnitude Earthquake

The town of Prague is about 57 miles (92 kilometres) east of Oklahoma City, where residents reported they felt the jolts from the earthquake. 

Oklahoma was among five states jolted by an earthquake late Friday night. According to the data from the US Geological Survey, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake occurred in Central Oklahoma around 11:24 pm. The agency said that it was centred 8 kilometres (4.9 miles) northwest of Prague.

Residents across the state from Lawton to Enid to Tulsa reported feeling the shaking to the U.S.G.S .

The initial earthquake was followed by at least eight smaller temblors through Saturday morning, ranging in strength from magnitude 2.5 to 3.4, according to the geological survey.

State and local emergency officials did not immediately return phone calls for comment early Saturday, but no major injuries or damage were initially reported.

The earthquake was shallow — just 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) deep, according to the USGS — and temblors that hit close to the surface can make the shaking more intense.

At least six earthquakes, including two greater than magnitude 4.0, were recorded near another Oklahoma City suburb in January. In April, a magnitude 4.0 earthquake was among a series of six that struck the central Oklahoma town of Carney, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City.

In 2016, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Sooner State, causing moderate damage. The calamity was tied to wastewater injection from oil and gas production, per the outlet. It has previously been reported by the USGS that several earthquakes throughout the Southern Plains were linked to human activities.

The agency added that “fracking,” which is the process of injecting either water and sand or even chemicals into the ground, can lead to earthquakes. It is done in order to break up the bedrock to reach oil and gas reserves. In addition to being a trigger cause for earthquakes, this process can also impact groundwater