Saturday, April 05, 2025
21.0°F

Wichita area feels 5 low-intensity earthquakes in 2 weeks

Margaret Stafford | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 3 months AGO
by Margaret Stafford
| December 9, 2020 2:15 PM

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — Five low intensity earthquakes have rattled part of the Wichita area since Thanksgiving, but a Kansas expert on seismic activity says residents of the state's largest city should not be overly concerned about a larger, more destructive quake occurring there.

A quake with an estimated 2.6 magnitude was felt Wednesday morning in southeast Wichita, where four other quakes have been reported in the last two weeks. The strongest quake was magnitude 3.3 on Tuesday.

Wichita media reported concerned residents calling emergency dispatchers after feeling the quakes and hearing booms associated with them, but no injuries or significant damage were reported. Geologists say damage is not likely in quakes below magnitude 4.0.

Rick Miller, a senior scientist with the Kansas Geological Survey, said the area has a history of low-intensity earthquakes dating as far back as 1919. The affected region is along the western edge of the Nemaha Ridge, an “underground mountain” with several faults.

He said KGS recorded nine earthquakes in the region in 2017-2018, but they were small enough that no one felt them. Historically, if an area experiences 10 magnitude 2.0 earthquakes, a magnitude 3.0 quake is likely to occur, he said.

More smaller quakes are likely before the ridge “settles down,” he said.

“You can never predict with complete certainty, but we shouldn't expect anything in the damaging range,” Miller said.

Earthquakes have increased in Kansas since 2013 when fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, became more common for oil and gas exploration. Some researchers believe injection of wastewater from the explorations into underground wells contributes to the quakes.

Those quakes, centered in southern and central Kansas, have caused damage and prompted investigations into the fracking and wastewater injection.

But Miller said there is no evidence to suggest the recent Wichita-area earthquakes had anything to do with fracking or wastewater disposal practices.

“That is just not the case here,” he said. “This is a natural sequence and not a direct impact from any nearby injector.”

i

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Is drilling responsible for Oklahoma quakes?
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 13 years, 4 months ago
Quake rocks Oklahoma
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 13 years, 4 months ago
Less shake from artificial quakes, federal study finds
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 10 years, 7 months ago

ARTICLES BY MARGARET STAFFORD

Kansas coronavirus death toll rises to 4, with 202 cases
March 27, 2020 7:20 p.m.

Kansas coronavirus death toll rises to 4, with 202 cases

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas health officials reported more than 200 confirmed coronavirus cases and a fourth death Friday, and the state's health director said he doesn't expect the spread of the virus to peak until mid- to late April.

Missouri swamped by unemployment claims as cases exceed 500
March 26, 2020 8:09 p.m.

Missouri swamped by unemployment claims as cases exceed 500

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — President Donald Trump has approved Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's request for federal disaster declaration, the governor's office announced Thursday.

Missouri sees 1st coronavirus death; local elections delayed
March 18, 2020 7:20 p.m.

Missouri sees 1st coronavirus death; local elections delayed

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday announced the first coronavirus death in the state happened in Boone County, without providing further details.