Whites City, New Mexico – Two small earthquakes struck northwest of Whites City Thursday, drawing monitoring attention from federal seismologists.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake registered magnitude 2.6 at 11:06 a.m. Mountain Time (17:06 UTC) about 25 kilometers north-northwest of Whites City, near the Carlsbad Caverns area. The quake occurred at a depth of approximately 5.9 kilometers.
Roughly eight minutes later, a second earthquake was detected in nearly the same area. The USGS reported the second event measured magnitude 2.8 and occurred about 29 kilometers northwest of Whites City at a depth of about 6.1 kilometers.
Both earthquakes were classified as minor seismic events and were reviewed by the USGS National Earthquake Information Center. As of Thursday, there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, and the USGS “Did You Feel It?” system had not yet recorded public responses.
Earthquakes below magnitude 3.0 are typically too small to cause structural damage and are often not felt by residents unless they occur very close to populated areas.
The events occurred in Eddy County, a region that occasionally records small seismic activity tied to natural geologic processes and, in some cases, subsurface industrial activity associated with the broader Permian Basin energy region. Scientists continue to monitor seismic trends in southeastern New Mexico and neighboring West Texas.
Local travelers, park visitors, and students in the Carlsbad area may notice alerts about minor seismic activity through federal monitoring networks, though such events rarely disrupt daily routines.
The USGS encourages residents who felt shaking to submit reports through its citizen science “Did You Feel It?” system, which helps researchers better understand how earthquakes affect communities.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
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