M5.0 Earthquake Hits West Texas, New Mexico Border
On March 26, 2020, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck West Texas near the New Mexico border. Seismic instruments indicate the earthquake originated at a depth of 5.3 miles (8.5 kilometers).
At 10:16 a.m. CDT on March 26 a moderate earthquake struck about 120 miles from Midland, Texas and 50 miles from Carlsbad, New Mexico. Perceived shaking for the quake was strong. Although the epicenter is in a sparsely populated area, the event was widely felt, with more than 1,000 "Did You Feel It?" reports thus far submitted.
This earthquake occurred in an area of known human-caused (induced) seismicity. The relationship between this earthquake and the ongoing energy development in the region is under examination.
The earthquake was followed by a magnitude 3.0 aftershock within one hour after the mainshock.
The USGS is coordinating its response with the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.
We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.