Oklahoma Becomes "Earthquake Central"

Another strong earthquake hit the state of Oklahoma on Saturday, days after a quake hit the central part of the state and a series of aftershocks followed.

The 5.6-magnitude earthquake's epicenter, located 44 miles east of Oklahoma City , was felt as far away as Wisconsin and South Carolina, but there were no serious injuries, officials said. The Oklahoma health department reported two minor injuries, neither requiring hospitalization.

The largest earthquake previously recorded in Oklahoma was a 5.5-magnitude tremor in 1952, according to the Geological Survey.

Early Morning Earthquake Hits Oklahoma

The third-largest earthquake in state history rattled central Oklahoma early Saturday and could be felt as far as Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas.

"We have reports of it being felt very widely, as far south as Plano, Texas, and up into Fort Leavenworth, Kan.," said Paul Caruso, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo.
Heather Spicer of Sapulpa, Okla., told the Oklahoman the quake woke her whole household, including the dog.

"At first I thought an airplane had crashed nearby," Spicer said. "But now I believe it was an earthquake because the whole house just kept vibrating with what sounded like distant thunder outside."

The 4.7 magnitude quake was reported at 2:12 a.m. with an epicenter about six miles north of Prague, Okla., about 50 miles east of Oklahoma City, according to the USGS. The quake was the third-largest in state history, Caruso said, following a temblor that shook Noble, Okla., on Oct. 13, 2010, and a 5.5 quake reported in El Reno, Okla., about 30 miles west of the capital, on April 9, 1952.

The quake was followed by at least nine aftershocks in the same area, Caruso said.

Japan Braces for More Aftershocks

JAPAN faces a '70 per cent' possibility of a magnitude-7 aftershock following the massive earthquake that struck its north-east coast, a government official said Sunday.

'There is a 70 per cent possibility that an aftershock with a magnitude of seven or more will occur' within the next three days, said Takashi Yokota, director of earthquake prediction and information at the Japan Meteorological Agency.

'The possibility is 50 per cent' during the three days from March 16, he added, pointing out that strong aftershocks have continued since Friday's quake and tsunami.

A magnitude 7 quake is capable of destroying buildings and triggering more  tsunamis.