Texas rocked by one of strongest earthquakes in state's history

Texas was rocked by a rare earthquake Monday evening that triggered thousands of reports across the western part of the state.

Residents reported their homes shook for about 10 seconds when the 5.1 magnitude quake hit around 7:50pm local time.

The epicenter was identified in Martin County, close to Midland,  which sits 300 miles from Austin where residents also felt a stream of shockwaves.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) noted Monday's tremor was the seventh largest in the state's history - the strongest was a 6 magnitude in 1931.

The USGS reported that the earthquake struck about 21 miles west-southwest of Ackerly, or 28 miles north of Midland, at a depth of around three miles, which suggested all residents across West Texas felt the ground shake.

More than 3,600 earthquakes have been reported in Texas since 1900, with more than 70 reaching a magnitude 4 or higher and seven over a 5.

The one in 1931 rattled Valentine, causing buildings to collapse, concrete to crack and even rotated tombstones in the cemetery.

A smaller earthquake was also reported around midnight in Ackerly, measuring a 2.9 magnitude.

And the USGS shows a 40 percent chance of an aftershock reaching a 3 magnitude or higher. 

A resident in San Angelo posted on X that it was the 'biggest one I've felt.' 

Another user mentioned that fracking is behind the quake.

James Monroe, with The University of Texas, shared on the platform: 'This quake is now one of only eight recorded in Texas history to hit a magnitude of 5.0 or higher. 

'For a state more associated with oil fields than fault lines, it's a rare occurrence.' 

Scientists have been speculating that the recent string of earthquakes in Texas is largely due to hydraulic fracturing - also known as fracking - which injects wastewater into the earth to release natural gas for energy.

Fracking involves miners drilling deep into the earth's surface and releasing high-pressure water that creates a small explosion to release natural gas and oil that can be used to create energy. 

Texas is listed as the number one state for fracking, and as of February 2017, it was home to 279,615 oil and gas wells but by 2023, that number had increased to 373,133 active wells.

The action brings groundwater to the surface and when it is injected back into the ground, it puts pressure on fault lines, resulting in more earthquakes. 

'The practice of deep injection of oil field wastewater, known as saltwater disposal, has the strongest tie to the increase in the rate of earthquakes and to the strongest earthquakes that have occurred in recent years,' said Peter Hennings, research professor at The University of Texas's Bureau of Economic Geology.