Red River Parish, Louisiana – A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck Thursday morning in northwest Louisiana, following an earlier regional tremor felt across multiple states.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at 11:30 a.m. UTC Thursday with an estimated depth of about 5 kilometers, centered in Red River Parish in the northwestern part of the state.
The event followed a magnitude 4.4 earthquake earlier in the day, which residents across Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and parts of Mississippi reported feeling. Thousands of people submitted “Did You Feel It?” reports to the USGS following the earlier shaking.
Seismic monitoring data shows the later 4.9 magnitude quake was stronger, though early assessments from the USGS indicate little to no expected economic losses or fatalities, with the agency’s PAGER system assigning the event a green impact level.
Intensity estimates from the USGS ShakeMap suggest light shaking in areas near the epicenter, with weaker shaking reported across a broader portion of the Ark-La-Tex region.
Officials have not reported significant structural damage or injuries as of Thursday. Local emergency agencies typically monitor earthquakes of this magnitude but widespread impacts are uncommon.
The USGS notes that small aftershocks are possible in the coming days. Current forecasts estimate about a 41% chance of magnitude 3 or greater aftershocks within the next week, though stronger events remain unlikely.
Earthquakes are relatively uncommon in Louisiana compared with western states, but occasional seismic activity occurs in the Ark-La-Tex region, where several geological fault systems are present.
The tremors prompted social media reports from residents describing brief shaking in homes, schools, and workplaces across the region. For students and young workers, late-morning quakes can be especially noticeable while in classrooms or office buildings.
Authorities encourage residents who felt shaking to submit reports through the USGS “Did You Feel It?” system to help scientists map earthquake intensity.
