New Mexico rocked by back-to-back earthquakes as ancient fault stirs—fracking and geological instability raise alarm

• Two earthquakes (3.6 and 3.1 magnitude) struck New Mexico just five minutes apart, centered near Eunice.
• The Alamogordo fault, part of the Rio Grande Rift, is actively widening, raising concerns of overdue seismic activity.
• Fracking wastewater disposal in the Permian Basin may be exacerbating instability, though USGS claims natural causes.
• Southern New Mexico recently endured a 5.4 magnitude quake, with experts warning of future damaging tremors.
• Utah’s Wasatch Fault, capable of a 7.5 magnitude quake, also rattled residents, highlighting growing seismic threats across the West.

The earth is speaking—are we listening?

New Mexico was jolted by back-to-back earthquakes on Thursday, sending shockwaves through the small town of Eunice and reigniting fears that an ancient fault line, dormant for millennia, may be reawakening. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a 3.6 magnitude quake at 12:24 p.m. local time, followed just five minutes later by a 3.1 magnitude tremor—both striking less than 10 miles south of Eunice. The shallow depth of the quakes amplified their intensity, rattling homes and businesses across the region.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Southern New Mexico was already shaken by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake on May 4, one of the strongest in recent memory, followed by multiple aftershocks. The USGS has warned that more seismic activity is likely, urging residents to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in the event of another major tremor.

The Alamogordo fault: A sleeping giant?

The epicenter of Thursday’s quakes sits atop the Alamogordo fault, a 68-mile-long fracture in the Earth’s crust that formed 30 million years ago. This fault is part of the Rio Grande Rift, a 600-mile-long geological wound stretching from Colorado to Mexico, where the continent is slowly being torn apart at a rate of 2 millimeters per year.

While the USGS insists these quakes are likely due to natural crustal adjustments, independent researchers and geologists have long warned that human activity—particularly fracking – could be destabilizing the region. Eunice lies in the heart of the Permian Basin, one of the most aggressively fracked oil and gas regions in the U.S.

The Alamogordo fault, though long dormant, may now be awakening due to human activity. Fracking—specifically the injection of wastewater deep into the Earth—has been shown to increase pore pressure along fault lines, effectively lubricating them and reducing the friction that keeps tectonic plates locked. In the Permian Basin, where Eunice is located, billions of gallons of wastewater are injected annually, potentially destabilizing ancient faults like Alamogordo. Studies confirm that such injections can trigger seismic activity, even in faults that have been inactive for millions of years. While the USGS attributes recent quakes to natural shifts, the correlation between increased fracking wastewater disposal and rising seismicity in the region is hard to ignore. If left unchecked, continued industrial activity could escalate minor tremors into more destructive events, turning a geological wound into a looming catastrophe.

Utah’s Wasatch Fault: A ticking time bomb

Meanwhile, Utah is also on edge after a 3.9 magnitude quake struck near Salt Lake City, shaking homes from Ogden to Spanish Fork. The tremor originated along the Wasatch Fault, a 220-mile-long fracture capable of unleashing a catastrophic 7.5 magnitude earthquake. A 2020 report by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute warned that such an event could:

• Kill 2,000–2,500 people
• Injure up to 9,300
• Displace 84,400 households
• Cause $33 billion in economic losses

The 2020 5.7 Magna earthquake offered a grim preview, knocking out power for 55,000 residents, damaging buildings, and even toppling the trumpet from the Angel Moroni statue atop the Salt Lake Temple.

The American West is no stranger to seismic upheaval. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake (7.9 magnitude) and the 1994 Northridge quake (6.7 magnitude) serve as brutal reminders of what happens when the Earth’s pent-up energy is violently released. Now, with fracking operations expanding and fault lines stirring, the question isn’t if another major quake will strike—but when.

Sources include:

Dailymail.co.uk

Dailymail.co.uk

Enoch, Brighteon.ai