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SALT LAKE CITY — A magnitude 4.17 earthquake centered near Magna shook the Wasatch Front on Tuesday at 8:56 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake was an aftershock to a magnitude 5.7 earthquake that rattled the state on March 18, University of Utah Seismograph Stations reported.
We're all feeling it. Stress and depression are common during #Coronavirus social distancing and after another #UtahEarthquake aftershock. Call at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained counselor. Learn more from @samhsagov: https://t.co/Tg95wdYnjz. pic.twitter.com/y451GQDqcs
— Be Ready Utah (@BeReadyUtah) April 15, 2020
Preliminary reports estimated the quake was a magnitude 4.2 but University of Utah Seismograph Stations later reported it was actually a magnitude 4.17 aftershock.
Many residents reported feeling the quake in Salt Lake and Davis counties, the Utah Division of Emergency Management confirmed.
Seismologists reassured residents that while a large aftershock hasn't been felt in weeks, this is normal and hasn’t made a much larger Utah quake more probable. According to the Utah Geological Survey, the March 18 earthquake has sparked more than 1,000 aftershocks.
“It’s not that unusual to have sort of a late aftershock like this,” said Keith Koper, director of the University of Utah Seismograph Stations. “So it doesn’t mean that anything has sort of fundamentally changed.”
This aftershock is part of the Magna sequence and even though we have not felt shaking for a couple of weeks, the aftershocks are ongoing and this is normal.https://t.co/Rig14n3kPd
— UUSS (@UUSSquake) April 15, 2020
An aftershock like this wasn’t unexpected, although it was a little late, Koper said.
It’s likely those close to the epicenter of Tuesday’s quake will continue to feel magnitude 2 and 3 aftershocks throughout the evening, he added.
Just hours before Tuesday’s aftershock, Salt Lake county and city leaders extended various declarations of emergencies related to the initial earthquake. Now, the declarations are active through July 6.
The extensions are aimed at ensuring federal funds will be available to pay for damage.
The Great Utah Shakeout, an event designed to educate individuals on how to prepare for earthquakes, was previously scheduled for Thursday and is still on.
For any Utahns feeling earthquake anxiety, resources are available here.
Contributing: Jason Tulin, KSL NewsRadio
