A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck Western Texas on Saturday, with tremors felt across large parts of the southern United States and northern Mexico. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported the quake at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), placing the epicenter about 50 miles west of Pecos, Texas, and 45 miles northeast of Van Horn.
Initially, the EMSC had measured the quake at magnitude 6.5, before revising it down to 5.2. Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 5.3 magnitude quake 57 kilometers south of Whites City, New Mexico, close to the Texas border.
The EMSC issued a public advisory warning residents about the possibility of aftershocks in the coming hours or days. “Unless it is necessary, stay away from damaged areas for your safety. Be careful and follow national authorities’ information,” the organization cautioned via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
According to the EMSC, nearly 2 million people across the US and Mexico felt tremors, with the shaking reported across an area spanning over 200 miles.
The earthquake in Texas followed another major seismic event earlier on Friday, when a powerful 7.4 magnitude quake struck off the southern coasts of Chile and Argentina, near Cape Horn and Antarctica, also at a depth of 10 kilometers. The Chilean government issued a tsunami warning for its southernmost region following the massive tremor, which was accompanied by multiple aftershocks.
So far, no injuries or significant damages have been reported in Texas or New Mexico, but authorities remain on high alert and have advised residents to stay cautious and monitor official updates.
Sources By Agencies
