Carlsbad, NM – A series of six small earthquakes rattled southeastern New Mexico early Thursday, with the strongest reaching a magnitude of 3.6, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
According to the USGS, the most significant quake, a magnitude 3.6 tremor, occurred at 4:17 a.m. UTC about 35 kilometers south of Hope, New Mexico, at a depth of 9.4 kilometers. This was followed by a magnitude 3.4 quake at 4:49 a.m. UTC in a similar location.
Other tremors included a magnitude 2.8 quake southeast of Hope at 4:11 a.m. UTC, a 2.6 magnitude tremor at 4:57 a.m. UTC, and a magnitude 2.9 earthquake 37 kilometers west of Carlsbad at 4:04 a.m. UTC. Another 3.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded 53 kilometers south-southwest of Whites City at 12:43 a.m. UTC, along with a 2.9 magnitude tremor 56 kilometers south of Whites City at 5:51 a.m. UTC.
There have been no reports of damage or injuries from the quakes, as the region is sparsely populated. However, small tremors in southeastern New Mexico are not uncommon, often linked to natural seismic activity or human-related factors such as wastewater injection from oil and gas operations.
Officials continue to monitor the seismic activity and encourage residents to report any shaking they may have felt.
