1931 Valentine earthquake
USGS ShakeMap | |
| UTC time | 1931-08-16 11:40:25 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 906944 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | August 16, 1931 |
| Local time | 05:40 CST (UTC−06:00) |
| Magnitude | mb5.8 – 6.4 |
| Depth | 10 km (6.2 mi) |
| Epicenter | 30°30′07″N 104°34′30″W / 30.502°N 104.575°W (USGS) 30°40′N 104°22′W / 30.66°N 104.37°W (ISC–GEM) |
| Type | Oblique-slip |
| Areas affected | Southwestern U.S., Northern Mexico |
| Total damage | $50,000–$75,000 (1931 USD) |
| Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe) |
| Casualties | No fatalities |
In the early morning hours of August 16, 1931, a powerful earthquake occurred in West Texas with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). Estimates of its magnitude range between 5.8 and 6.4 mb, making it the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Texas history. Its epicenter was near the town of Valentine, Texas; there, the earthquake caused damage to many homes and buildings. The earthquake may have been caused by movement along oblique-slip faulting in West Texas, the most seismically active region in the state. Shaking from the earthquake was perceptible within a 400 mi (640 km) radius of the epicenter, affecting four U.S. states and northern Mexico. Several foreshocks and aftershocks accompanied the primary temblor, with the aftershocks continuing until at least November 3, 1931. The main earthquake caused no fatalities, though several people sustained minor injuries; the damage in Valentine amounted to $50,000–$75,000 ($962,195–$1,443,293 today).