Intense earthquake swarm shaking Southeast Idaho

An intense earthquake swarm started near Soda Springs, southeastern Idaho at 23:55 UTC on Saturday, September 2, 2017. Local authorities say they cannot ever remember any earthquake swarm in Southeast Idaho that comes even close to the current series of temblors shaking the region.

Between 23:26 UTC on September 2 and 08:05 UTC on September 4, the USGS registered a total of 71 earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 5.3 and depths between 3.7 and 10.8 km (2.3 to 6.7 miles). 

The largest earthquake so far was M5.3 at 23:56 UTC on September 2, the strongest to hit the region in years.

According to the Idaho State Journal, authorities said it does not appear that the quakes have caused any injuries to people or damage to structures. 

In recent decades, the paper said, Southeast Idaho has seen infrequent instances in which one to three weak earthquakes occur near the Western Wyoming border. Local authorities say they cannot ever remember any earthquake swarm in Southeast Idaho that comes even close to the current series of temblors shaking the region.

Soda Springs, Idaho earthquake swarm location map. Credit: USGS

The quakes are occurring some 200 km (124 miles) north of Salt Lake City, Utah and 500 km (310 miles) south of ongoing energetic earthquake swarm in Yellowstone National Park.

Credit: University of Utah

Featured image: Earthquake swarm near Soda Springs, Idaho – September 2017. Credit: Google, USGS