Minor earthquake awakes some West Texans

Minor earthquake awakes some West Texans Sara Higgins
Midland Reporter-Telegram Midland Reporter-Telegram | 5 comments

A short-lived earthquake awoke some West Texans on Sunday morning to the unusual sound of shutters rattling and items jostling on nightstands.

The 4.4-magnitude quake hit 11 miles north-northeast of Snyder at 7:27 a.m., and lasted only a few seconds, according to firsthand witnesses. Officials had not been notified of any damage or injuries as of Sunday afternoon.

"It just shook and made kind of a rumble," said Lt. Darrel Craig of the Snyder Fire Department. "It was like a B-1 bomber flying over. It lasted maybe four or five seconds."

While anyone near a magnitude 4-range earthquake will certainly feel a good jolt, said geophysicist Rafael Abreu, they're still not considered "big" earthquakes, and aren't cause for alarm.

"These are known to happen just about anywhere in the world," said Abreu, who works for the U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Center.

West Texas had experienced two aftershocks from the Snyder quake as of Sunday afternoon, with a 2.5-magnitude earthquake happening nearby at 1:36 p.m. and a 2.7-magnitude at 3:31 p.m.

"This is exactly the sort of thing we expect after a 4.4," Abreu said, adding that the aftershocks may continue through the next few days.

The center received 18 responses from Midland residents who said they felt weak shaking during the first earthquake. Instances were reported as far as Iraan, Graham and Childress. Three Snyder residents reported feeling the first aftershock, and 12 had felt the second as of Sunday evening.

A search through National Earthquake Center's database for past earthquakes within a 20-kilometer radius from Snyder yields results for four different ones that happened earlier this year. The most powerful area earthquake this year in March had a magnitude of 3.1.

"The other earthquakes during this year in that area have been in the 2- to 3- magnitude range," Abreu said. "Those happen by the thousands around the world every day."

Though the center is looking into what may be causing the frequency of these events, the geophysicist said West Texans shouldn't worry about the area's latest quakes.

"We do tell people to be alert and be educated regarding what exactly is the seismic activity is for their region," he said. "At this point we can say this is definitely something people should not be alarmed about."