Fri Dec 05 19:50:00 UTC 2025: News Article:
False Earthquake Alert Shakes Northern Nevada, Triggering Widespread Panic
CARSON CITY, NV – A false earthquake alert sent by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) on Thursday morning caused brief panic across northern Nevada and even reached residents in the San Francisco Bay Area, nearly 200 miles away.
At 08:06 local time, the USGS issued an alert reporting a magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Carson City. The alert, generated by the agency’s automatic earthquake detection system, prompted automatic warnings on smartphones advising residents to drop, cover, and hold on.
However, the alert was swiftly cancelled minutes later, and the corresponding entry removed from the USGS website. “There was no M5.9 earthquake near Carson City, NV,” the USGS stated on X (formerly Twitter).
The agency confirmed that the alert was issued in error and believed to be the first completely false earthquake notification ever generated by the USGS. An investigation is now underway to determine the cause of the malfunction in the automated system.
Local law enforcement agencies in the area surrounding the reported epicenter confirmed that no ground movement or earthquake activity had occurred. A magnitude 5.9 earthquake is typically strong enough to cause noticeable shaking and some property damage.
The false alarm caused considerable confusion and concern, highlighting the reliance on, and potential pitfalls of, automated alert systems. The USGS is working to understand the error and prevent future incidents.
First Piper 