KEY POINTS
- A Utah County earthquake measuring magnitude three point five struck near Saratoga Springs at 12:53 pm.
- No injuries or damage were reported, according to state officials.
- The quake follows a series of smaller earthquakes across northern Utah.
A magnitude three point five earthquake struck near Utah County on Thursday afternoon, briefly shaking communities from Saratoga Springs to Draper amid a recent uptick in regional seismic activity.
The Utah County earthquake occurred at a depth of about four point eight miles, less than four miles from Saratoga Springs, according to the US Geological Survey.
Residents in Lehi, Eagle Mountain and areas near Camp Williams also reported light shaking.
The earthquake follows a magnitude four point seven event near the Utah-Wyoming border on Jan. 22 that was felt across much of northern Utah.
The University of Utah Seismograph Stations has recorded about one hundred earthquakes statewide over the past two weeks, most below the threshold of human perception.
“These magnitudes are common along the Wasatch Front and do not signal a larger event,” said William Yeck, a research seismologist with the US Geological Survey.
“They do, however, underscore Utah’s ongoing seismic exposure.” Rebecca Carey, director of the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, said shallow earthquakes are often felt more widely despite modest strength.
“Depth strongly affects how people experience shaking,” she said. Utah Emergency Management spokesperson Abbie Peterson said no infrastructure impacts were identified.
“Preparedness remains the most effective tool for reducing risk,” Peterson said. Seismologists said limited aftershocks are possible but are usually short lived for earthquakes of this size.
The Utah County earthquake caused minimal disruption but served as a reminder of persistent seismic risk, reinforcing the importance of preparedness for communities across northern Utah.
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