TOYAH, Texas — A mild earthquake shook parts of far West Texas this afternoon, with instruments detecting a magnitude 2.5 tremor about 36 kilometers northwest of Toyah, according to the Texas Seismological Network (TexNet). The quake struck at 11:53 a.m. local time at a shallow depth of roughly 7 kilometers.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, no damage or injuries were reported, and no felt reports had been filed as of early Monday evening. The region, part of Reeves County, has experienced occasional minor seismic activity in recent years linked to natural and industrial causes.
The shallow quake’s proximity to U.S. Highway 285 and sparsely populated ranch land means few residents likely felt shaking. Emergency management officials in Reeves County continue to monitor for aftershocks but said none have been detected so far.
Residents who experienced movement or rumbling are encouraged to submit a felt report through the USGS “Did You Feel It?” portal to assist with seismic tracking and mapping.
Small quakes such as Monday’s are typically harmless but serve as a reminder of growing seismic monitoring across Texas’ oil-producing regions. TexNet and the USGS will continue to evaluate seismic activity in the area this week.
