A swarm of earthquakes has rattled Nevada, with four quakes recorded since 8 a.m. ET. The strongest, a magnitude 4.0, hit around 12:28 p.m. ET, about 50 miles northwest of Carlin. This region, located roughly 200 miles southwest of Reno, is known for its seismic activity.
The earthquakes are centered in the sparsely populated Great Basin, near active fault lines such as the Central Nevada Seismic Belt and the Pleasant Valley Fault. These faults are capable of producing large quakes, with the potential for a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in the area.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has assessed a 27% chance of another earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or higher within the next week, with a 5% risk for a magnitude 4.0 or greater.
Despite the swarm’s potential to affect hundreds of people, only three reports of “strong shaking” were received, with minimal damage. The region’s mining activities, such as those at the Twin Creeks and Turquoise Ridge mines, may also contribute to seismic activity.
Nevada is the third most seismically active state in the U.S. after California and Alaska, with earthquakes occurring frequently due to the extension and fault movements in the Earth’s crust.
