Wed Sep 18 02:15:31 UTC 2024: ## South Plains Shook by 5.1 Magnitude Earthquake

**LUBBOCK, Texas** – A 5.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the South Plains on Monday evening, the second significant tremor in the region in two months. The epicenter was located about 21 miles from Ackerly and just four miles from Patricia.

This latest quake follows a similar 5.1 magnitude event near Hermleigh in January. Texas Tech geophysics assistant professor Jay Tung explained that these earthquakes are a result of stress release along ancient tectonic boundaries. “The stress has been accumulating, and it’s being released through these ruptures,” he said.

The Texas Railroad Commission (TRC) conducted an investigation into earthquakes exceeding 3.5 magnitude in the Permian Basin to determine if there was a link to oil and gas industry activities. The TRC examined saltwater disposal wells in Scurry and Fisher Counties, but Harold Gurrola, a Tech associate professor in seismology, confirmed that the recent quakes were not connected to oil and gas operations.

“While tectonic forces put pressure on the fault, it’s difficult to pinpoint what triggers the actual earthquake,” Gurrola said. “Overall, there is evidence suggesting that oil activity can increase seismic activity over time, but it’s not possible to attribute this specific quake to oil operations.”

Tung cautioned that predicting future earthquakes is nearly impossible. “Historically, only 5% of earthquakes have been successfully predicted,” he said. He urged residents to prepare for potential tremors by practicing safety measures like dropping to the ground and covering their heads during an earthquake.

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