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Magnitude 5.0 earthquake strikes West Texas

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feeds.texastribune.org – By Pavan Acharya – 2025-02-15 13:58:00

Large earthquake strikes West Texas, among strongest ever in state

Large earthquake strikes West Texas, among strongest ever in state” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

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A 5.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded in West Texas late Friday evening, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and could be felt by residents more than 150 miles away in El Paso.

The earthquake struck near the border of Culberson and Reeves counties at 11:23 p.m. CST with an epicenter about 33 miles northwest of Toyah, Texas. Three smaller aftershocks also occurred within minutes of the first quake. There have been no immediate reported deaths or injuries associated with the quakes. And economic losses are expected to be minimal.

According to the geological survey, shaking in neighboring cities ranged from “weak” to “light” with about 950,000 being exposed to the quake. The earthquake was also felt by Texans as far west as El Paso and in some cities in eastern New Mexico.

About 20 minutes after the initial earthquake, the National Weather Service El Paso posted to X, asking residents if they had felt the earthquake and a subsequent aftershock.

Friday’s earthquake is tied for the sixth strongest in Texas history, according to the website Earthquake Track. Texas has also experienced two magnitude 5.1 earthquakes in the past six months, both tying for the fifth strongest in state history.

The number and strength of earthquakes in West Texas has grown in recent years. In November 2023, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck near the borders of Reeves and Culberson counties, tied for fourth strongest in Texas history.

Scientists have attributed higher earthquake activity in the Permian Basin in West Texas to an increase in hydraulic fracturing — also known as fracking — in the area, which is the most productive oil and gas region in the state. When water is injected into the ground for fracking, fluid pressures increase within faults, scientists say, which can lead to more seismic activity in oil fields.

Since 2000, a dramatic increase in seismic activity in the Permian Basin has likely been triggered by increased wastewater disposal due to fracking, a 2021 study by USGS and University of Texas scientists found.

There are more than 20 deep injection wells in the Culberson County and Reeves County area, according to data from the Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates the state’s oil and gas industry. That figure is slightly lower than in 2022.

The decrease comes as the commission has made efforts to reduce seismic activity in West Texas. After the largest Texas earthquake in three decades struck near the border of Reeves and Culberson counties in November that year, commission staff also expanded the area where water injections could be restricted and asked companies to reduce how much water they inject underground in the area.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/15/texas-west-earthquake-magnitude/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

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News from the South - Texas News Feed

Frustrated with poor play against UTEP, Arch Manning will 'get back to basics'

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www.kxan.com – Billy Gates – 2025-09-14 22:29:00

SUMMARY: Texas quarterback Arch Manning and coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledge the team’s underwhelming offensive performance in a 27-10 win over UTEP. Manning completed 11 of 25 passes for 114 yards with a touchdown and an interception, frustrating fans expecting a stronger showing at home. Despite a rough first half with 10 consecutive incompletions, Manning showed flashes of promise and scored twice on the ground. Sarkisian emphasized Manning’s mental struggle rather than physical injury and expressed confidence in his growth and consistency. Manning committed to improving fundamentals and handling in-game pressure ahead of tougher matchups, including their SEC opener against Florida on Oct. 4.

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Texas nursing students return from life-changing internship in Africa

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www.kxan.com – Esmeralda Zamora – 2025-09-14 13:12:00

SUMMARY: Two Texas nursing students, Tom Strandwitz and Valerie Moon, participated in Mercy Ships’ inaugural nursing internship aboard the Africa Mercy hospital ship in Madagascar. Selected from nationwide applicants, they gained hands-on experience in various departments, providing free surgeries and care in underserved regions. Their travel expenses were covered by over $11,000 raised through community GoFundMe campaigns. Both students were deeply impacted by patient interactions, such as cataract surgeries restoring sight and building trust with families. The internship broadened their perspectives on global health care. They plan to continue careers in intensive care and public health, with hopes to return to international nursing missions.

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Austin becoming FEMA-approved emergency alert authority, planning 1st test alert

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www.kxan.com – Abigail Jones – 2025-09-13 12:16:00

SUMMARY: On Monday, Sept. 29, Austin will conduct a test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), becoming a FEMA-approved alerting authority able to send emergency alerts via Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to cell phones and Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages to TV and radio. This coordinated test at 3 p.m. will cover the city across its three counties—Travis, Hays, and Williamson. The alerts will clearly indicate a test and require no action. IPAWS allows authenticated, geotargeted emergency notifications without subscription, enhancing public safety communication. More details are available at ReadyCentralTexas.org and Ready.gov/alerts.

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