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.
