A magnitude 5.0 earthquake in western Texas caused swaying in southern New Mexico, with the initial quake occurring 33 miles northwest of Toyah. Despite a magnitude 3.8 tremor two minutes later and ongoing aftershocks, little to no damage was expected. The Permian Basin region has seen increased seismic activity due to the injection of high volumes of wastewater from oil and gas production into subsurface reservoirs. Last year, the Railroad Commission of Texas shut down disposal wells in Reeves and Culberson counties due to seismic activity. The earthquakes were felt as far as Las Cruces, Sierra County, Lubbock, El Paso, and Albuquerque, with former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White reporting feeling the quake in Albuquerque. The geologists believe that the activation of faults is linked to the injection of wastewater. The event marked continued concerns about seismic activity in the region.
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