SUMMARY
- The Louisiana earthquake measured magnitude 4.9 and struck near Edgefield before dawn Thursday.
- Officials reported low risk of casualties or economic losses from the shaking.
- The event highlights rare but persistent intraplate seismic activity in the US Gulf region.
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck rural northern Louisiana early Thursday, shaking communities south of Shreveport and marking the second strongest tremor recorded in the state’s modern history, according to the US Geological Survey.
Residents across northwest Louisiana felt brief shaking around 5:30 AM local time when the quake struck about 6.2 miles west of Edgefield in Red River Parish at a shallow depth of roughly 3.1 miles, USGS data show.
Louisiana rarely experiences earthquakes because it lies within the stable continental interior of North America where seismic stress builds slowly along ancient buried faults.
“Even moderate shaking can surprise residents in regions not accustomed to earthquakes,” said Susan Hough, a seismologist with the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.
Michael Blanpied, associate coordinator for the USGS hazards program, said intraplate quakes often occur without long warning because stresses accumulate deep within old fault systems. No major damage or injuries reported today.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
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