An earthquake of 5.1 magnitude shook an area near Oklahoma’s capital late Friday night, followed by several smaller quakes, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake struck at 11.24 pm and was centered 5 miles northwest of Prague, Oklahoma, about 57 miles east of Oklahoma City. Residents from Lawton to Enid to Tulsa reported feeling the shaking to the USGS.
In the hours following the initial earthquake, at least eight smaller tremors ranging in strength from magnitude 2.5 to 3.4 were recorded, according to the USGS. These smaller temblors continued through Saturday morning. Despite the seismic activity, state and local emergency officials had not reported any major injuries or damages by Saturday.
The earthquake was a shallow one, just 1.8 miles deep, which can intensify the shaking, according to the USGS. This event adds to a series of seismic activities that have occurred in Oklahoma in recent years. For instance, in 2016, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake was recorded in Pawnee, the state’s strongest recorded earthquake site.
These frequent occurrences of earthquakes in Oklahoma highlight the ongoing risk of seismic activities in the region. The USGS continues to monitor and assess these events to mitigate the potential impact on residents and infrastructure.