A string of tremors rocked Oklahoma on Friday evening and Saturday morning, with at least two measuring 4.4 magnitude on the Richter scale.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), a 3.2 magnitude earthquake was recorded at 9:37 p.m. CT near Arcadia, a town northeast of Oklahoma City. Just ten minutes later, a 4.4 magnitude quake struck about four miles west of Arcadia, as reported by both the USGS and local ABC News affiliate KOCO.
The USGS also recorded two smaller earthquakes, measuring 2.7 and 2.5 magnitude respectively, following the initial tremors.
Saturday morning saw a continuation of the seismic activity, with a 2.6 magnitude earthquake hitting near Arcadia at around 4:45 a.m. CT. An hour later, another 4.4 magnitude quake shook the area near Edmond, just north of Oklahoma City. This was followed by a smaller 2.7 magnitude tremor at 6:55 a.m. CT.
Fortunately, there have been no reports of damages or injuries so far.
This map from the USGS shows the epicenter of an earthquake near Oklahoma City on Jan 13, 2024.
However, the USGS has stated that earthquakes measuring 4.9 magnitude or lower typically only cause minor disturbances and may be felt by those indoors. It is only when the magnitude reaches 5.0 or higher that significant damage can occur.
In response to the earthquakes, the Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS) released a statement on Saturday, noting strong shaking in the immediate area and across Oklahoma City. The OGS also warned citizens to secure any valuables that could be affected by potential aftershocks and to practice safety measures in case of further damaging events.
While most aftershocks are usually weaker than the mainshock, the OGS emphasized that there is still a high risk of seismic activity in the area. They advised citizens to take precautions and follow the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” protocol in case of any future earthquakes.
These recent tremors do not match the strongest earthquake ever recorded in Oklahoma, which was a 5.8 magnitude quake near Pawnee on September 3, 2016.
In March 2017, the Pawnee Nation filed a lawsuit against several oil companies in tribal court, alleging that their underground wastewater injection caused the earthquake. This marked the first time a tribe had used its own court system to sue companies over earthquake damage.
