Las Animas, Colorado—In the early hours of Wednesday, August 21, 2024, residents in Las Animas, Colorado, may have experienced a brief, faint tremor as a weak earthquake of magnitude 2.2 struck the region. The earthquake, which occurred at 1:25 AM local time, was centered at a depth of 5 kilometers beneath the surface, according to data confirmed and revised by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The epicenter was pinpointed at 37.5703°N latitude and 104.1387°W longitude, approximately in the Las Animas area. Despite the tremor being detected by seismic equipment, there were no immediate reports of the quake being felt by residents, and no damage or injuries have been reported. The shaking intensity was classified as “very weak,” falling into category II on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.
The weather at the time of the quake featured overcast skies with a temperature of 17.5°C (63°F) and a light breeze from the west-southwest at 3 meters per second (6 knots). The relative humidity was recorded at 48%, creating a calm and quiet atmosphere in the area.
While the quake released an estimated 1.3 x 10^8 joules of seismic energy—equivalent to about 35 kilowatt hours—it was not strong enough to cause noticeable shaking or disruption to the community. The USGS, the primary source of data on this event, was the first to report the earthquake roughly 40 minutes after it occurred.
Earthquakes of this magnitude are common in the region, though they typically go unnoticed by the general population due to their low intensity. Nonetheless, this event serves as a reminder of the Earth’s ever-present geological activity, even in areas where significant seismic events are rare.
As always, residents are encouraged to be aware of emergency protocols in the event of larger seismic events, though this particular earthquake has not triggered any alarms or need for concern. The USGS continues to monitor the area for any further seismic activity.
For more information and to stay updated on seismic events, residents can visit the USGS website or follow local news updates.