4.7 Magnitude Earthquake, Aftershocks Rumble Through Oklahoma

NewsOn6.com

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma -- A 4.7 magnitude earthquake shakes Oklahoma early Saturday morning, according to the Oklahoma Geological Survey.  

The earthquake struck about 20 miles northeast of Shawnee at 2:12 a.m. Saturday morning. The epicenter was located 6 miles north of Prague, 7 miles east-southeast of Sparks, and 47 miles east of Oklahoma City. The earthquake was only 3 miles deep.

Austin Holland, a researcher with the Oklahoma Geological Survey, said the earthquakes occurred on a known fault line. Roughly 40 aftershocks have taken place after the initial 4.7 magnitude earthquake.

"The five largest are showing up on our web site so far," Holland said, "but we have the ability to see a lot smaller earthquakes and record them.

Since the interview with Holland, there has been an additional 3.6 magnitude aftershock, recorded at 9:36 a.m. 18 miles northeast of Shawnee, 39 miles southeast of Stillwater, and 41 miles east of Oklahoma City. 

"Eventually the list will include a lot of aftershocks. The volume of information will continue to grow on our website, so people can check back through the next few days."

Residents of nearby towns like Prague and Sparks experienced the first earthquake as pretty intense shaking, he said. For residents father away, the large earthquake experience was more of a rumbling.

"It shakes much more rapidly when you're closer to it," he said. "Because it's a large earthquake, it's going to rumble for a while."

News on Six also spoke with one of the scientists at the Oklahoma Geological Survey who told us this experience was new to her.

"It was actually the first one I've ever felt and I've worked here for 15 years," said Amy Gibson. "You know I hear reports of these all the time and to actually sound like thunder and feel like somebody hit the house with a car, and you know startles you. Those are all very legitimate descriptions and I can really relate to it."

The organization has had hundreds of emails from people who report feeling the quakes across a very large region of the United States, Holland said, including Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and Arkansas.

Six largest aftershocks:

A second earthquake, or first aftershock, happened at 2:27 a.m. and registered as a 3.4 magnitude. This earthquake was located in the same area, 20 miles northeast of Shawnee, 41 miles east of Okmulgee, 42 miles south-southeast of Stillwater, and 46 miles east of Oklahoma City.

The second aftershock occurred at 2:44 a.m. and registered at 2.7. This aftershock was located 4 miles west of Prague, 8 miles east of Meeker, 14 miles northeast of Shawnee, and 44 miles east of Oklahoma City.

A third aftershock registering at 2.7 magnitude occurred at 2:50 a.m. 5 miles southeast of Sparks, 7 miles northwest of Prague, and 44 miles east of Oklahoma City.

At 4:12 a.m. a fourth aftershock registering 3.3 magnitude was reported 2 miles southeast of Sparks, 8 miles south of Davenport, 19 miles north-northeast of Shawnee, and 43 miles east of Oklahoma City.

Yet another aftershock at 6:24 a.m. The fifth aftershock registering 3.3 magnitude was located 15 miles northeast of Shawnee and 41 miles east of Oklahoma City.

At 9:36 a.m. a 3.6 magnitude aftershock was recorded18 miles northeast of Shawnee, 39 miles southeast of Stillwater, and 41 miles east of Oklahoma City.

Some minor property damage has been reported but no injuries.

For more information on the earthquakes you can log onto the United States Geological Survey web site.

The Oklahoma Geological Survey wants to hear from everyone who felt the quake. Report your experience with the earthquakes in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.