Daijiworld Media Network - West Texas

West Texas, May 4: A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck West Texas on Saturday evening, continuing a seismic swarm along the Texas-New Mexico border, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed.

The quake occurred at 7:47 p.m. local time, roughly 35 miles south of Whites City, New Mexico, and between the Texas cities of Midland and El Paso. Due to the region’s low population density, the USGS said there was minimal impact and a low likelihood of ground failures such as landslides or liquefaction.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) initially estimated the quake at a stronger 6.5 magnitude, with the epicentre placed around 50 miles west of Pecos, Texas. The agency later revised the figure and advised that aftershocks were likely in the coming hours or days.

Tremors from the quake were reportedly felt across a 200-mile radius, affecting nearly two million people in the U.S. and northern Mexico. Authorities urged residents to avoid damaged areas and follow safety advisories from local officials.

This event follows a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck between Cape Horn and Antarctica just a day earlier, prompting Chile to issue a tsunami warning for its southernmost region due to the intensity and shallow depth of the quake.