Rare 4.5-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes South Texas

The quake, centered in Karnes County near San Antonio, is among the strongest recorded in the region's history but caused no significant damage.

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck northern Karnes County, Texas, at 9:26 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, with tremors felt as far as Killeen and Kerrville.
Over 650 people reported feeling the quake, which is the third-strongest ever recorded in South Texas, according to earthquaketrack.com.
The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the quake's epicenter was about 12 miles east-northeast of Falls City and at a depth of 2.3 miles underground.
Seismologists noted that while such earthquakes are rare in Texas, the region's oil and gas operations, particularly wastewater disposal from fracking, may contribute to seismic activity.
A smaller aftershock of magnitude 2.6 occurred a few hours later near Stockdale, following earlier minor tremors in January.