Small Earthquake Shakes Oklahoma City

Map of earthquake location today (Feb. 27, 2013) near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. CREDIT: USGS. View full size image

An earthquake of preliminary magnitude 3.5 struck today near Oklahoma City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The temblor's epicenter was 10 miles (16 km) east of Oklahoma City and 1 miles (2 km) south-southwest of Nicoma Park, Okla. It originated 5.6 miles (9 km) deep and struck at 1:51 local time (1951 UTC), the USGS reports.

Some light to moderate shaking was reported in the Oklahoma City area, according to the USGS. Earthquakes of this size typically do not cause damage and there were no immediate reports of harm.

Tremors east of the Rocky Mountains are less common than those in the western United States, but they are usually felt over a much broader area.

The damage caused by any single earthquake depends on its depth, proximity to populated areas, building standards in the region, as well as the type of earthquake. The USGS frequently updates the magnitude of an event after more data is analyzed.

An earthquake's magnitude is a measure of the energy released at the source. It is just one predictor of the shaking that may ensue, which is affected by local and regional geology. Scientists know in a general sense what causes Earthquakes but are unable to predict specific quakes.

This article will be updated if significant additional information becomes available. Find more earthquake news here.