Editor’s note: Several minor earthquakes in Louisiana recently have been blamed on fracking. Researchers link these rare tremors to intense oil and gas activity, specifically wastewater injection wells related to Haynesville Shale. That brings the total to 16 earthquakes since Dec. 4, including the 4.9 magnitude quake on March 5 (the largest inland quake in Louisiana history) and a 4.0 magnitude quake Monday, March 9.
By Paige Gurgainers
Residents across north Louisiana received an unexpected early morning wake-up call Thursday as a rare earthquake rattled parts of the region.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck shortly after 5:30 a.m. on March 5, registering a magnitude of 4.9. The epicenter was located near Edgefield in Red River Parish.
The tremor was widely felt across northwest Louisiana, east Texas and southern Arkansas. Many residents reported feeling their beds shake, windows rattle and household items move during the brief event.
Several residents in the Minden and Webster Parish area said the shaking was noticeable enough to startle them awake.
“I was laying in bed and thought one of the kids had jumped on the bed,” said one Minden resident. “But then the whole room kind of rattled for a few seconds. I realized pretty quickly something unusual had just happened.”
Another resident described a similar experience.
“I heard the windows shake and felt the house move just a little bit,” she said. “At first I thought maybe a big truck had driven by, but then I checked my phone and started seeing messages asking if anyone else felt it.”
Earthquakes of this magnitude are extremely rare in Louisiana. In fact, Thursday’s tremor ranks among the strongest ever recorded in the state.
Historically, the largest earthquake linked to Louisiana occurred in February 2006, when a magnitude 5.3 quake struck offshore in the Gulf of Mexico near Grand Isle. Because it occurred far from populated areas and offshore, the effects on land were limited and little damage was reported.
Prior to this week’s event, one of the strongest earthquakes recorded on Louisiana soil occurred in 1930, when a magnitude 4.2 earthquake shook parts of the state.
Thursday’s quake occurred at a relatively shallow depth beneath the surface, which helped make the shaking noticeable across a wide area. Despite the surprising start to the morning, no significant damage or injuries have been widely reported.
Geologists say earthquakes are uncommon in Louisiana because the state is not located near major tectonic plate boundaries. However, smaller underground fault systems in the region can occasionally produce tremors.
Experts say minor aftershocks are possible, though they would likely be much smaller and may not be felt by residents.
For many across north Louisiana, Thursday morning’s tremor served as a surprising reminder that even in a region known more for hurricanes than earthquakes, the ground beneath our feet can still occasionally move.