Toyah, TX – Residents in western Reeves County experienced a burst of seismic activity Monday afternoon as two small earthquakes were recorded just northwest of Toyah, according to seismic monitoring data.
According to the Texas Seismological Network (TexNet), the earthquakes occurred at approximately 9:55 a.m. CST (15:55 UTC) and were centered 31–32 kilometers (about 19–20 miles) northwest of Toyah, a small community in Reeves County, located east of Pecos and south of Interstate 20 in West Texas.
The first quake registered a magnitude 2.6 at a depth of 5.8 kilometers, while a second event moments later measured magnitude 2.7 at a slightly shallower depth of 4.6 kilometers. Both were reviewed automatically and cataloged by the ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat).
Earthquakes of this magnitude are generally considered minor and typically do not cause structural damage. However, light shaking can sometimes be felt near the epicenter, especially in rural areas where seismic background noise is low. As of publication, no injuries or damage have been reported, and there were no immediate felt reports submitted by residents.
West Texas has seen an increase in recorded seismic events over the past decade, particularly in the Permian Basin region, which spans parts of Reeves, Ward, and Pecos counties. Scientists continue to study whether some activity may be linked to natural fault movement or industrial processes such as wastewater injection.
Residents who felt shaking are encouraged to submit reports through official earthquake monitoring platforms to help researchers better understand local impacts.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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