Texas earthquake: Regional alerts as swarm of tremors rock southern US state
An earthquake that registered as 5.3 magnitude is part of a swarm of tremors in the southern US state of Texas, as locals prepare for more aftershocks.
The earthquake struck in West Texas on Saturday night near the Texas border with New Mexico, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Officials said the tremor struck at around 7.47pm and was about 35 miles south of Whites City, New Mexico. The area is roughly midway between the Texas cities of Midland and El Paso.
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Authorities are reportedly monitoring the area for ground failure and landslides as soil may behave like a fluid due to the number of tremors.
The latest quake formed part of a swarm of 46 mostly small earthquakes in the area since early April, USGS data indicated, with a 65 per cent chance of a strong aftershock in the coming week.
Local TV station KTSM reported the 5.3 tremor was the strongest of three stronger-than-usual earthquakes to rock the region on Saturday night, which also included magnitude 3.4 and 2.9 quakes.
No injuries have been reported so far.
