TONOPAH, Nev. — A light earthquake struck northeastern Nye County late Tuesday night, shaking a sparsely populated stretch of western Nevada but causing no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the 3.5-magnitude quake about 82 kilometers northeast of Tonopah at a depth of roughly 6 kilometers around 11:40 p.m. local time.
According to the USGS, the quake was automatically reviewed and felt near rural desert communities but produced no verified citizen reports. Minor tremors of this size are not unusual in central Nevada, part of a seismically active region known for occasional moderate quakes.
Local emergency officials said there were no disruptions to utilities or highways, though residents in northern Nye and Esmeralda counties were reminded to check emergency supplies and review safety plans. Earthquakes of this magnitude typically serve as a reminder of the region’s underlying fault activity rather than a significant threat.
The USGS continues to monitor the area for aftershocks, though none have been recorded so far. Residents can report shaking at earthquake.usgs.gov to assist scientists in mapping the event’s impact zone.
