Okla. hit with magnitude-5.1 earthquake

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY

A magnitude-5.1 earthquake shook northwest Oklahoma and was felt in seven other states Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, the third-strongest temblor ever recorded in the state where the power and frequency of earthquakes has increased dramatically in recent years.

The earthquake centered about 17 miles north of Fairview in northwestern Oklahoma occurred at 11:07 a.m. and reportedly was felt across Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas, the USGS said. At least 10 smaller quakes ranging in magnitude from 2.5 to 3.9 were recorded in the same area by late Saturday afternoon, according to the USGS.

Oklahoma’s stronger and more-frequent earthquakes have been linked to the injection into the ground of the briny wastewater left over from oil and gas production.