A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Texas panhandle early Thursday morning, marking the strongest quake to hit the area since 1900, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The temblor occurred at approximately 5:21 a.m. local time at a depth of 3.5 miles (5.7 km). Its epicenter was located about 27.8 miles southeast of the city of Spearman and roughly 68 miles from Amarillo.
No Injuries or Deaths Reported
No injuries or deaths were reported from the earthquake. The USGS noted that “overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are unreinforced brick masonry and reinforced masonry construction.”
Residents Describe Shaking
Residents across the region reported feeling the shaking. One Facebook user wrote: “Awakened by thunder-like rumble and shaking in Pampa around 5:20am.” Another resident said: “Woke us up in Mobeetie. Lasted about 20 seconds or so. A picture fell off a shelf also.”
Several people in White Deer also reported feeling the quake. One person said it “shook the bed,” while another described: “It was wild! We live in White Deer. I was standing, and it threw me way off balance. Talk about a strange feeling.”
Regional Impact
Tremors were also felt in western Oklahoma and southwestern Kansas, according to local media outlets. The earthquake is the strongest recorded in the Texas panhandle since 1900, highlighting the region's seismic activity.
