4.0-magnitude earthquake rattles southern Utah

A 4.0-magnitude earthquake rattled Wayne County Monday night.

A 4.0-magnitude earthquake rattled Wayne County Monday night. (U.S. Geological Survey)


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TORREY, Wayne County — No injuries or damages were reported after a shallow, 4.0-magnitude earthquake rattled near Capitol Reef National Park Monday night.

The earthquake occurred about 1.5 miles beneath the surface, just east of Capitol Reef's boundaries and nearly 20 miles northeast of Torrey, shortly after 10:30 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. People reported feeling it throughout Wayne County and in many neighboring counties.

Earthquake risk in the region is relatively low, and Monday's quake was near the stronger end of the typical earthquakes that affect the region, the agency noted in a summary of the tectonic region.

Federal geologists wrote that many of the earthquakes in the western Colorado Plateau are related to underground coal mining or other oil and mining activities. It wasn't immediately clear if that was the case on Monday.

They add that there's about a 19% probability for a 3.0-magnitude or higher aftershock within the next week.

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Carter Williams, KSLCarter Williams
Carter Williams is a reporter for KSL. He covers Salt Lake City, statewide transportation issues, outdoors, the environment and weather. He is a graduate of Southern Utah University.
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