ST. GEORGE — A 3.3. magnitude earthquake hit Hildale on Thursday afternoon.
The quake was reported shortly after noon approximately 8.5 miles from Hildale and 40 miles from St. George at a depth of nearly 6 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The rumbling was reported by nine people throughout Southern Utah, including those near Cedar City and Hurricane and across the Arizona border in Colorado City.
Dr. Emily Morton, a research scientist with the University of Utah’s seismograph stations, told St. George News earthquakes are felt the most by those closest to the epicenter, but the shaking “dies off” as people move farther away.
The 3.3 magnitude earthquake likely rattled household items, she said. Damage is more likely to occur in Southern Utah at a magnitude of 5 or higher.
“Mostly just because we have very vulnerable buildings,” Morton said. “So, the example is the Magna earthquake in 2020 – there was a lot of damage associated with that, but in other areas, that wouldn’t be considered a very big earthquake.”
The 5.7 magnitude earthquake occurred north of Magna, with over 2,500 aftershocks. Over 30,000 people reported feeling the quake, which Earthquakes.Utah.Gov reports likely caused over $63 million in building damages and contributed approximately $629 million in economic losses. No major injuries were reported.
While other small quakes have occurred throughout Southern Utah this summer, Morton said it likely isn’t a pattern. Utah’s seismic stations track over 1,500 earthquakes each year, and it’s normal for small quakes to happen every day. The Hildale quake was near the Sevier Fault system, while the rattling near Brian Head in July was along the Hurricane Fault system.
“Neither of them came along with any other significant activity,” she said. “So, we monitor. So, if we see that maybe there’s a bunch popping off, then we would maybe release a notice that something interesting is going on down there. But, so far, there haven’t been any other events – any other earthquakes on this one. No aftershocks. So, it seems like it’s just a little, little pop and then nothing.”
Still, Morton said the small quake is a good reminder to be prepared.
“We are capable of having large earthquakes in the state,” she said. “And on the Hurricane Fault, we could probably get up to magnitude 7ish. So, it’s nice to have these little ones … It’s a good reminder to prepare and be ready for a big one without actually causing any damage.”
To learn more about earthquake preparedness, Southern Utahns can visit the Great Utah ShakeOut’s website or Ready.gov.
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