UPDATED: 4.4 earthquake shakes St. George, Littlefield, Mesquite

Stock image | Photo by Petrovich/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — An earthquake 30 miles east-southeast of Littlefield, Arizona, was felt by Southwest Utah residents Monday afternoon.

This map shows the location of the earthquake that occurred 50 miles south of St. George, Utah on Sept. 19, 2022, and how far out far it was felt | Image courtesy of the USGS, St. George News | Click to enlarge

Update Sept. 19, 5:45 p.m. Additional information and reader comments added.

People across the St. George area experienced what some on social media said felt like a “rolling shake” around 3:18 p.m. Some reported the quake lasted just a second or two while others said it lasted up to 10 seconds or more in duration.

“I felt this earthquake between 3:10 and 3:20. It was very short in duration (less than 30 seconds),” area resident Laura Randall commented on the St. George News Facebook page. “But it was noticeable, and made our cat and dog who were sleeping wake up slightly alarmed.”

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake took place at 3:18 p.m. and registered a 4.4 magnitude. It took place on the Shivwits Plateau in Arizona, 31 miles south of St. George. The USGS said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 6.2 miles, making it a shallow shaker.

A 4.4 earthquake is capable of being felt, but would only cause minor damage, the USGS says.

By the time the quake was felt in the St. George area, a map on the USGS website shows the magnitude felt by residents dropping to around 2.5.

The USGS also states that quakes that are measured between 2.5 and 5.4 in magnitude are

A crack running from a doorway at a St. George area business caused by the earthquake that took place 50 miles south of St. George, Utah, Sept. 19, 2022 | Reader submitted photo, St. George News

Shortly after the quake, St. George News contacted the St. George Police Department and was told no one had called into dispatch with an emergency or major property damage related to the event.

By 5:20 p.m., Nearly 360 people reported feeling the quake on the USGS “Did you feel it?” section of its website. Most reports came from across the St. George metro area, as well Mesquite, Kanab and Cedar City.

“Felt it in Brian Head,” Mike Seamisch posted on the St. George News Facebook page.

The largest earthquake felt locally in recent years was 30 years ago when a 5.8 magnitude quake hit the St. George region on Sept. 2, 1992.

Did you feel it or see any damage? Feel free to comment or leave images that might be published at the St. George News Facebook page.

 

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