West Texas earthquake swarm raises geological concerns amid sparse population impact
Pranjal Chandra | May 04, 2025, 16:43 IST
( Image credit : TIL Creatives )
A strong earthquake occurred in a remote area of West Texas. The earthquake measured 5.3 in magnitude. It was part of a series of smaller tremors. These tremors have been happening since April. Experts are studying the cause of these earthquakes. They suspect it may be linked to oil and gas operations. There is a chance of aftershocks.
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake shook a remote stretch of West Texas on Saturday night, highlighting an ongoing swarm of seismic activity that has been quietly intensifying near the Texas-New Mexico border. Though the region is largely unpopulated, the event has captured the attention of geologists and emergency preparedness experts alike.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the 5.3-magnitude temblor struck at 7:47 p.m. local time, about 35 miles south of Whites City, New Mexico. The location is a rugged and sparsely inhabited zone nestled between Midland and El Paso, two of West Texas’s most prominent cities. The quake originated nearly four miles beneath the Earth’s surface, indicating a relatively shallow seismic event, which typically translates into more intense ground shaking at the surface.
Fortunately, the isolated nature of the epicenter meant that “little or no population” was exposed to significant shaking, according to the USGS. No injuries or major damage were reported, and the geological conditions of the area mostly solid bedrock and low water tables meant that phenomena like liquefaction or landslides were unlikely.
This earthquake wasn’t an isolated event. Since early April, USGS records show at least 46 minor to moderate quakes in the same general region, a phenomenon seismologists refer to as an “earthquake swarm.” Saturday night’s activity included three notable quakes: the 5.3-magnitude event, along with magnitude 3.4 and 2.9 tremors that occurred in close proximity and time.
Such swarms, while not uncommon in tectonically active areas, are less typical for the Permian Basin a region better known for its oil and gas output than for seismic hazards. However, in recent years, West Texas has seen a significant uptick in seismic events, a trend many geologists link to human activity such as wastewater injection from oil and gas operations. The USGS has been monitoring this area closely as a result.
“There’s a 65% chance of a strong aftershock in the next week,” the agency reported in its preliminary analysis. That prediction underscores a need for continued vigilance in an area where seismic monitoring infrastructure has traditionally been minimal.
While no major urban centers were directly affected by Saturday’s quakes, the tremors were felt hundreds of miles away. Residents in cities including Midland, Lubbock, and Arlington submitted reports to the USGS’s “Did You Feel It?” portal, offering valuable data for scientists studying the spread and intensity of seismic waves across the region.
NBC affiliate KTSM in El Paso, located more than 100 miles west of the epicenter, also reported receiving local accounts of light shaking. El Paso itself sits on the far western edge of Texas’s seismic map, and while the city is rarely impacted by strong earthquakes, recent trends suggest a shift in long-standing assumptions about seismic safety in the broader region.
The swarm raises important questions about both natural and human-induced seismicity in the region. While the 5.3 quake did not lead to visible destruction or injuries, it serves as a reminder that even traditionally “quiet” areas can experience significant seismic shifts.
Local and state emergency management agencies are monitoring the situation, and experts advise residents in affected areas to stay informed about aftershocks, however unlikely widespread disruption may seem.
As the USGS continues to gather data from this latest seismic sequence, the broader implications for infrastructure planning, oilfield regulation, and public safety in West Texas remain an open and increasingly urgent topic of discussion.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the 5.3-magnitude temblor struck at 7:47 p.m. local time, about 35 miles south of Whites City, New Mexico. The location is a rugged and sparsely inhabited zone nestled between Midland and El Paso, two of West Texas’s most prominent cities. The quake originated nearly four miles beneath the Earth’s surface, indicating a relatively shallow seismic event, which typically translates into more intense ground shaking at the surface.
Fortunately, the isolated nature of the epicenter meant that “little or no population” was exposed to significant shaking, according to the USGS. No injuries or major damage were reported, and the geological conditions of the area mostly solid bedrock and low water tables meant that phenomena like liquefaction or landslides were unlikely.
Part of a larger swarm
Such swarms, while not uncommon in tectonically active areas, are less typical for the Permian Basin a region better known for its oil and gas output than for seismic hazards. However, in recent years, West Texas has seen a significant uptick in seismic events, a trend many geologists link to human activity such as wastewater injection from oil and gas operations. The USGS has been monitoring this area closely as a result.
“There’s a 65% chance of a strong aftershock in the next week,” the agency reported in its preliminary analysis. That prediction underscores a need for continued vigilance in an area where seismic monitoring infrastructure has traditionally been minimal.
Growing regional awareness
NBC affiliate KTSM in El Paso, located more than 100 miles west of the epicenter, also reported receiving local accounts of light shaking. El Paso itself sits on the far western edge of Texas’s seismic map, and while the city is rarely impacted by strong earthquakes, recent trends suggest a shift in long-standing assumptions about seismic safety in the broader region.
What comes next?
Local and state emergency management agencies are monitoring the situation, and experts advise residents in affected areas to stay informed about aftershocks, however unlikely widespread disruption may seem.
As the USGS continues to gather data from this latest seismic sequence, the broader implications for infrastructure planning, oilfield regulation, and public safety in West Texas remain an open and increasingly urgent topic of discussion.