5.3 Earth Quake Hit’s Southern Colorado
5.3 Earth Quake Hit’s Southern Colorado.
At 11:46 MDT last evening a 5.3 quake shook southern Colorado startling locals and leaving only minor damage in it’s wake. It was the largest out of 7 quakes recorded between midnight and 5am in the area. According to the USGS the quake had a depth of 2.5 miles and could be felt throughout a large part of southern Colorado and into New Mexico.
The epicenter of the quake was 7 miles south west of Cokedale in Las Animas county and 130 miles south of Colorado Springs
According to a dispatcher at the Las Animas county Sheriff’s office the quake only lasted 30 seconds, rockslides were reported on Highway 12 and Interstate 25 but were not severe enough to close either road. No injuries were reported and only minor structural damage occurred as a result of the quake.
Last nights quake was the largest that Colorado has seen in 40 years, and according to the USGS was in an area not known for major quakes or active faults. The largest known quake to hit Colorado was a 6.5 and occurred on November 7th 1882 near Rocky Mountain National Park.
