MIAMI, Texas – A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck Thursday in the Texas Panhandle—about 23 miles northwest of Miami—according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Because it was shallow, people near the area were more likely to feel it as shaking or rattling.
According to USGS data, the M5.0 earthquake is the strongest earthquake to hit the Panhandle since 1900.
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So far, the information shared by the USGS points to limited impact. The agency’s automated impact estimate (called PAGER) issued a green alert, which the USGS says means serious damage and injuries are unlikely. The USGS estimate also shows about a 90% chance of no significant economic losses.
The USGS says aftershocks—smaller quakes that can follow—are possible over the next week. Its forecast says there’s a 2% chance of at least one aftershock as strong as magnitude 5 or higher, which can be damaging, but the USGS describes that as a low probability. The agency also says smaller aftershocks could happen, including some large enough to be felt nearby.
The USGS notes its aftershock forecast can change as new data comes in.