Although you might think of earthquakes as a problem affecting the Western United States, some of the biggest tremors in U.S. history have occurred in the East.
EDMOND, Oklahoma – While many people in Oklahoma received some respite Thursday, a 3.4 magnitude earthquake shook communities in the center of the state, sending people to social media to figure out what was happening.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake was centered near Edmond, Oklahoma, and occurred just before 6 p.m. local time.
No initial damage associated with shaking was reported, which is not uncommon during small events.
According to the USGS, earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater typically cause damage.
Magnitude 3.4 Earthquake Tracker
(FOX Weather)
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The quake was centered very close to where a swarm of earthquakes shook the state earlier this year.
On Jan. 13, dozens of earthquakes, the largest a magnitude 4.4, occurred near Edmond along Interstate 35 on the north side of the metro.
The USGS has linked many earthquakes in the Southern Plains to human activities such as hydraulic fracturing – the process of injecting water, sand or chemicals into the ground in order to break up bedrock to reach oil and gas reserves.
Map of the earthquake for Thursday, May 2, 2024
(USGS/FOX Weather)
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The most powerful earthquake in state history occurred in 2016 and was linked to the injection of wastewater from oil and gas production.
The 5.8 magnitude earthquake was centered near the town of Pawnee, located more than an hour’s drive northeast of the state capital.
The event caused moderate damage in north-central Oklahoma and at least one person was reported injured.
