5.1 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Near Midland, Texas

A rare 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Midland, Texas, on Monday night at 7:49 p.m., sending tremors across a wide region including Lubbock, San Antonio, and Austin. The earthquake, centered around 21 miles west-southwest of Ackerly at a depth of approximately 5 miles, triggered thousands of reports to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Despite the intensity, no injuries or significant damage were immediately reported. The region, known for its fracking activities, has seen an increase in seismic activity over the years, though no direct link to fracking has been established for this event. This marks the third earthquake in Texas since 2017 to exceed a magnitude 5. The USGS noted that earthquakes east of the Rockies tend to be felt over greater distances and can cause more damage than similar magnitudes in the western US.