On Saturday night, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake hit West Texas, part of an ongoing swarm of seismic activity near the Texas-New Mexico border, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at 7:47 p.m., approximately 35 miles south of Whites City, New Mexico, situated between Midland and El Paso. The epicenter was nearly 4 miles deep, and due to the region’s sparse population, few residents felt its impact. The USGS noted that ground failure, landslides, and liquefaction—which occurs when soil turns fluid—were unlikely consequences.
This earthquake is part of a broader pattern, with 46 small earthquakes recorded since early April in the same area. The USGS has indicated a 65% chance of experiencing a significant aftershock within the following week. On the same night, El Paso’s NBC affiliate, KTSM, reported that the 5.3 earthquake was the most powerful among three notable tremors that also included magnitudes of 3.4 and 2.9.
Responses to the USGS’s “Did You Feel It” feature came from various Texas cities, including Arlington, Midland, and Lubbock. Remarkably, no injuries or significant damage were reported following the earthquake. This seismic activity underscores the importance of monitoring and understanding the geophysical dynamics at play in the region, which is less commonly associated with large earthquakes compared to other areas in the United States.
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