Swarm of earthquakes rattle Enterprise

Written by Ric Wayman
January 15, 2016
Stock Image | St. George News

ST. GEORGE — After a small- to medium-size preliminary magnitude-3.3 earthquake rattled the area around Enterprise City Jan. 9, two foreshocks hit Friday afternoon, followed by a third quake — a rollicking magnitude 4.2 temblor.

Seismograph readings from the Zion National Park station. (1) a 1.5 quake at 1:34 p.m. (2) a 2.2 quake at 1:37 p.m. (3) a 4.3 quake at 3:37 p.m. | Graphic courtesy of the University of Utah, legend applied by St. George News
Seismograph readings from the University of Utah Zion National Park station. (1) a 1.5 quake at 1:34 p.m. (2) a 2.2 quake at 1:37 p.m. (3) a 4.3 quake at 3:37 p.m. | Graphic courtesy of the University of Utah, legend applied by St. George News

The United States Geological Survey reported that the quakes began Friday at 1:34 p.m. with a minuscule magnitude 1.5 rattle, centered 11 miles west-southwest of Enterprise, followed by a magnitude-2.2 quake 6 miles west-southwest of the city at 1:37 p.m. Two hours later, at 3:37 p.m., the area was shaken by a magnitude-4.3 earthquake centered 12 miles west-southwest of Enterprise.

While a magnitude-4.3 earthquake is not large, it can still be unnerving. If construction is not up to standards, a magnitude-4.0 quake can cause structural damage to homes and other buildings. Items may fall off shelves and windows may crack or shatter.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

"I wrote my first word when I was very young. I enjoyed this so much I decided to write many more words." A native of Pacific Palisades, Calif., Ric was bitten by the news bug as a staff writer and associate editor of the Palisades High School Tideline. After school he entered the media as a radio personality, both playing music and reporting news. Ric moved to St. George in the 1980s and was the morning personality on all three major AM stations in town. An avid amateur radio operator, Ric is looking for a good band to play in, as he plays keyboards, bass and guitar. Ric lives in the center of St. George with his partner Terri, two snoring dogs and too many neurotic cats.

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1 Comment

  • St. G January 16, 2016 at 1:36 pm

    Don’t worry, nothing will shake up Enterprise. 😉

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