10th minor earthquake strikes North Texas Wednesday morning

A 10th earthquake rocked the eastern side of the Metroplex into Wednesday at 8:34, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Like most of the previous nine quakes it was near the site of the old Texas Stadium. The second one, a 3.6 magnitude, was the strongest in the recent outbreak. The latest was 2.6.

The latest in a series of about 20 earthquakes since November were again in Irving, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The ninth quake occurred just before 1 a.m. Wednesday.

On social media, people in Dallas, Addison, Richardson, Garland, Carrollton, Irving, Lewisville, Rowlett and more reported feeling the quakes.

The strongest quake of the day — a 3.6 magnitude at 6:52 p.m. — was 4 miles east-northeast of Irving. And a 3.5-magnitude quake hit 3 miles east northeast of Irving about 3:10 p.m.

The other quakes were smaller. The seventh quake — a 1.6 magnitude — was recorded at 11:02 p.m. 3 miles east-northeast of Irving. The sixth — a 2.4 magnitude — was 2 miles north-northeast of Irving at the University of Dallas at 10:05 p.m.

At 9:52 p.m., a 1.7 magnitude quake was recorded 4 miles northeast of Irving in northwest Dallas. And a 2.9-magnitude quake struck at 8:11 p.m., followed a minute later by a 2.7-magnitude quake 2 miles northeast of Irving, the agency reported.

After the second quake in the evening, people on Twitter said they felt the quakes in Highland Park, Lakewood, Coppell and Skillman.

“My daughters Freaked!” Julie Fisk tweeted from Lovers Lane and Skillman Street.

Some Dallas Cowboys said they felt the afternoon quake. The team’s headquarters are at Valley Ranch in Irving.

Wide receiver Cole Beasley said he felt it while sitting on a couch in the locker room.

“It didn’t scare me. It was over before I could even realize what it was,” Beasley said. “Dwayne [Harris] was like, ‘Did you feel that?’ I was like, ‘Kind of.’ But I didn’t know what that was, I never felt an earthquake before.”

Defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford said the defense was in a team meeting.

“I thought it was BeastMode hitting his back against the wall – that’s Josh Brent,” Crawford said. “We saw the screen shake, and no one really knew what it was. Some guys said, ‘Earthquake.’ I’ve never experienced it. I don’t know what to do when an earthquake hits.”

Crawford was told it was a 3.5 magnitude.

“It was a 3.5? Is that big? Well, next time we need to be coached what to do in case of an earthquake.”

Northeast of Snyder, a 3.5-magnitude earthquake hit at 3:55 p.m. Tuesday.

The shaking actually began around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, with a 2.7 magnitude quake.

All the quakes have been minor, and no major injuries or damage has been reported, except for some cracked walls.

North Texas has had more than 30 minor earthquakes since 2013, and some of the strongest were in November and December 2013.

In 2013, North Texas also had three 3.6-magnitude quakes: Dec. 8 north of Azle, Nov. 28 north of Mineral Wells and Nov. 19 northwest of Azle.

Researchers from the Southern Methodist University seismology program were to begin installing another seismograph in Irving on Monday to help explain the increase in quakes. The Irving area already had two seismographs.

SMU seismology professor Brian Stump will be among experts scheduled to brief the Irving City Council on Jan. 15.

The SMU scientists have about 20 seismic monitors collecting data focusing on a 5- to 6-mile stretch near Azle and Reno.

Staff writers Drew Davison and Domingo Ramirez Jr. contributed to this report, which includes material from the Star-Telegram archives.

Earthquakes Tuesday-Wednesday

3.1 magnitude, 12:59 a.m. Wednesday, 2 miles north-northeast of Irving.

2.7 magnitude, 10:12 p.m., 2 miles northeast of Irving.

2.4 magnitude, 10:05 p.m., 2 miles north-northeast of Irving.

1.7 magnitude, 9:52 p.m., 4 miles northeast of Irving.

2.7 magnitude, 8:12 p.m., 2 miles northeast of Irving.

2.9 magnitude, 8:11 p.m,. 3 miles east-northeast of Irving.

3.6 magnitude, 6:52 p.m., 4 miles east-northeast of Irving.

3.5 magnitude, 3:10 p.m., 3 miles east-northeast of Irving.

2.3 magnitude, 7:37 a.m., 2 miles northeast of Irving.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

This story was originally published January 6, 2015 at 4:11 PM with the headline "10th minor earthquake strikes North Texas Wednesday morning."