A magnitude-4.0 earthquake shook residents in northern Texas, Thursday evening, amid speculation that fracking is responsible for the seismic activity.
The largest quake to strike Texas occurred in 1931 and was a 5.8-magnitude event in the western part of the state, according to the USGS
Only last month, Southern Methodist partnered with the USGS and the University of Texas to study the rash of earthquakes in the 2013-2014 period, near the city of Azle, to determine if man-made activity, specifically fracking, could be responsible for triggering the seismic events.
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The study proved that fracking was capable of triggering earthquakes.
RT report: The earthquake, which struck near Venus, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Dallas, at 5:58 p.m., was the most powerful to strike the region since seismic activity began in November 2013. Since then, more than 50 tremors have rattled the region, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Earthquake clusters began to strike northern Texas in 2008. Since then, over 120 quakes have been reported in the region. Prior to that year, researchers say, a felt earthquake had not been reported in the area in nearly 60 years.
The latest earthquake to hit north Texas was felt from southern Fort Worth and Arlington south to Hillsboro, AP reported.
Although no serious damage or personal injury was reported, the Texas Railroad Commission conducted an inspection of all oil and gas infrastructure within a 10-mile radius of the earthquake’s epicenter for cracks or leaks, Johnson County emergency management coordinator Jamie Moore told the Arlington Star-Telegram.
Niamh Harris
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