Oklahoma’s strongest ever earthquake is felt across seven states after experts warned fracking could lead to increase in seismic activity
United States Geological Survey said a 5.6 magnitude earthquake happened at 7.02am Saturday
The quake was centered about 9 miles northwest of Pawnee, Oklahoma, which has a population of about 2,200
People in Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Des Moines, Iowa; and Norman, Oklahoma, all reported feeling the earthquake
No injuries were reported but several buildings suffered structural damage
Earlier this week, the same spot saw a magnitude 3.2 temblor
In November 2011, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit Prague, which is a city located about 70 miles south of Pawnee
Increase in magnitude 3.0 or greater quakes in the state has been linked to underground disposal of wastewater from oil and natural gas production
By REGINA F. GRAHAM
DAILYMAIL.COM
3 September 2016
A record-tying earthquake in the edge of Oklahoma’s key energy-producing areas rattled the Midwest from Nebraska to North Texas on Saturday and likely will focus fresh new attention to the practice of disposing oil and gas field wastewater deep underground.
The United States Geological Survey said a 5.6 magnitude earthquake happened at 7.02am Saturday in north-central Oklahoma, which is a key energy-producing region.
That matches a November 2011 quake that hit the city of Prague, which is about 70 miles south of Pawnee.
Geologists say damage is not likely in earthquakes below magnitude 4.0, however, some buildings suffered severe structural damage from the quake in Pawnee.
Pawnee County Emergency Management Director Mark Randell said no buildings collapsed in the town of 2,200 about nine miles southeast of the epicenter, and there were no injuries, either.
‘We’ve got buildings cracked,’ Randell said. ‘Most of it’s brick and mortar, old buildings from the early 1900s.’
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