Evander Ellis-Earthquakes over magnitude 4 among smaller temblors recorded near Oklahoma City suburb

2025-05-03 07:01:53source:Oliver James Montgomerycategory:Markets

EDMOND,Evander Ellis Okla. (AP) — At least six earthquakes that include two greater than magnitude 4 have been recorded near an Oklahoma City suburb, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The preliminary magnitudes of the earthquakes near Edmond include a 4.1 shortly after 5:30 a.m. Saturday and a 4.4 at about 9:45 p.m. Friday.

No injuries or significant damage has been reported, according to city of Edmond spokesperson Bill Begley, who said investigators will fully inspect infrastructure.

Four other earthquakes ranging from magnitude 2.5 to 3.2 were also recorded by the USGS Friday night and early Saturday in the area about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City.

Other news Magnitude 6.4 earthquake shakes parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan but no damage is reportedJapan’s nuclear safety agency orders power plant operator to study the impact of Jan. 1 quake213 deaths were caused by Japan’s New Year’s quake. 8 happened in the alleged safety of shelters

The threshold for damage usually starts at 4. The strongest earthquake on record in Oklahoma was a magnitude 5.8 near Pawnee in September 2016.

Oklahoma Corporation Commission spokesperson Matt Skinner said the agency is investigating the earthquakes, which he said were in an area known as the Arcadia Field where previous earthquakes were linked to the underground injection of wastewater, a byproduct of oil and gas production.

The injection wells were shut down, Skinner said. “There is no oil and gas activity in that area that can be linked to these earthquakes” that struck Friday night and Saturday, he said.

Skinner said in that area there is also no hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the technique to extract oil and gas from rock by injecting high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals.

Many of the thousands of earthquakes in Oklahoma in recent years have been linked to the underground injection of wastewater from oil and natural gas extraction.

The corporation commission, which regulates the oil and gas industry in the state, has directed several producers to close some injection wells and reduce the volumes in others as a result of the quakes.

More:Markets

Recommend

Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Gov.-elect Josh Steinon Thursday challenged

Jimmy Kimmel reacts to Trump guilty verdict: 'Donald Trump's diaper is full'

Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts in his New York criminal hush money trial, and J

Police with batons approach Israel-Hamas war protesters at UC Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Police approached arm-in-arm protesters early Friday at the University of