A 4.5 magnitude earthquake rattled north central Oklahoma late Tuesday night. The earthquake happened around 11:25 p.m., making it the third earthquake registering over 3.0 to strike since Tuesday. It’s also the strongest since the 5.8 magnitude temblor that occurred in Pawnee in early September.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported the epicenter was near Pawnee, about 70 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.
The USGS originally estimated the magnitude at 4.1. A 3.3 magnitude earthquake was recorded near Pawnee on Saturday.
Damage reports are minimal according to the Pawnee police.
An increase in 3.0 magnitude and stronger earthquakes in Oklahoma has been linked to the underground wastewater disposal from oil and gas production. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has ordered the permanent shut down of some Arbuckle disposal wells in order to reduce the amount of wastewater returned underground.
