Earthquakes continue in southern Colorado over the weekend

PROMO 660 x 440 Miscellaneous - Earthquake Seismograph - iStock
Published Sunday, March 19, 2023
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by Chris Sorensen

A series of 10 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or greater has continued to shake Las Animas County in southern Colorado during March, with two additional quakes in neighboring New Mexico occurring in mid- to late February. The strongest quake, measuring 4.3 on the Richter Scale, happened March 9 west of Trinidad.

The most recent Colorado earthquakes occurred Saturday evening and Sunday morning according to the United States Geological Survey.

2023-03-19_map_february_and_march_earthquakes_in_southern_colorado_and_northern_new_mexico_-_usgs.png

MAP February and March earthquakes in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico - USGS
February and March 2023 earthquakes in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico - USGS

Saturday's quake happened at 5:17 p.m. and had a magnitude of 3.1. It was centered near six earthquakes, including the 4.3, which occurred between March 9 and 10 west of Trinidad.

Sunday's earthquake, which occurred at 5:10 a.m., had a magnitude of 3.8 and was located about 10 miles northwest of Trinidad, or 3 miles west of Hoehne. As of 7:30 a.m., 35 people reported feeling the quake.

No damage reports have been received.

March Las Animas County Earthquakes

Date / Time

Magnitude

Depth

Thursday, March 9 / 11:06 p.m.

4.3

1 mile

Friday, March 10 / 1:40 a.m.

2.8

4 miles

Friday, March 10 / 2:43 a.m.

2.5

3 miles

Friday, March 10 / 3:50 a.m.

3

1 mile

Friday, March 10 / 8:30 a.m.

3.5

1.5 miles

Friday, March 10 / 1:31 p.m.

4.3

3 miles

Monday, March 13 / 10:22 p.m.

3.5

4 miles

Saturday, March 18 / 5:09 p.m.

3.1

3.5 miles

Sunday, March 19 / 5:10 a.m.

3.8

2.5 miles

March San Juan County Earthquake

Friday, March 10 / 7:55 a.m.

3.6

3 miles

February New Mexico Earthquakes (Near Colorado)

Saturday, February 18 / 12:33 a.m.

2.5

2.5 miles

Thursday, February 23 / 8:36 p..

2.7

2.5 miles

Earlier in the week, on March 13, a 3.5 magnitude earthquake occurred near the March 9-10 cluster. All of the quakes in the area have happened at a depth of between one and five miles beneath the surface.

In nearby New Mexico, earthquakes occurred February 18 and 23, measuring 2.5 and 2.7, respectively, on the Richter Scale.

Minor earthquakes are relatively common in Las Animas County. Since January 31, at least 11 quakes measuring 2.5 or greater have occurred around the Trinidad area.

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