Permian region earthquake rattles New Mexico, felt as far north as Albuquerque
Feb. 15—LAS CRUCES — A magnitude 5.0 earthquake that shook western Texas late Friday night caused shaking and swaying across a swath of southern New Mexico as well.
The earthquake occurred at 10:23 p.m. MST, 33 miles northwest of Toyah, Texas, a sparsely populated town 70 miles from Van Horn and 190 miles from El Paso. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the initial quake occurred at a depth of 6.6 kilometers and was followed two minutes later by a tremor of magnitude 3.8 — the first in a series of quakes or aftershocks. However, little to no damage was expected.
Friday's quakes occurred in the region where a 5.2 earthquake struck in 2023. However, increased seismic activity in the Permian Basin region has seen hundreds of smaller earthquakes and shocks rock southeastern New Mexico and neighboring Texas counties.
Geological researchers have linked higher seismic activity to high volumes of wastewater from oil and gas production injected into subsurface reservoirs, leading to the activation of faults. Last year, the Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates oil and gas production in that state, shut down saltwater disposal wells in Reeves and Culberson counties due to seismic activity.
Local news reports and social media accounts Friday night and Saturday morning indicated the quakes were felt in Lubbock, El Paso, and across southeastern New Mexico as far west as Las Cruces and Sierra County.
Former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White even reported feeling it in Albuquerque, 380 miles northwest of Toyah. Taking to X, he wrote: "I don't think I've ever felt a quake before tonight. Even if it was so light. But enough to make that ceiling fan chain move."
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