Magnitude 4.0 Earthquake Recorded Near Douglas, Arizona Border

When I was a teenager, I lived in Southern California for a short time. Living close to the beach and the mountains was nice, and for a short time, I thought everything was perfect.

That was until I experienced my first earthquake. I remember it well. I was getting my braces adjusted when it happened. I was in a newer building, and it seemed to move all over the place, making the shaking even more alarming.

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As it turned out, that earthquake registered about 4.5 on the Richter scale, a relatively small quake by California standards. I thought I’d left all that behind when I moved to Arizona more than three decades ago. But early last Sunday, the earth showed us all who’s boss.

Sunday’s Arizona Earthquake

Early Sunday morning, residents in Southeastern Arizona were shaken awake when a magnitude 4.0 earthquake rattled the Arizona-Mexico border area on August 16th.

The quake happened at 2:57 a.m. Arizona time. According to earthquake monitoring data on earthquaketrack.com, the epicenter was near Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, about 19 miles southeast of Douglas, Arizona. The earthquake rattled about 10 miles below the surface.

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READ: Could Arizona Experience a Catastrophic Earthquake?

Where Was The Epicenter And How Strong Was The Quake?

The earthquake's epicenter was near Agua Prieta and measured 4.0 on the Richter scale.

The quake was strong enough that some residents felt it, but not strong enough to cause much damage. According to quakepulse.com, the quake was the largest seismic event reported near Douglas in the past week.

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What Caused The Earthquake?

The Arizona Geological Survey says earthquakes in the area are driven by “tectonic forces acting on crustal faults,” and most of them happen several miles beneath the surface.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the Douglas-Agua Prieta area is located within a historically active seismic zone near the Arizona-Mexico border.

READ ALSO: Dr. Goodfellow: Surgeon in the Tombstone Saloon

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How Common Are Earthquakes Near Douglas?

Thankfully, this earthquake is not as worrisome as a similar quake could be in California. However, hundreds of earthquakes occur across Arizona every year, and most are so small that we don’t feel them.

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The Arizona Geological Survey says felt earthquakes happen occasionally, and slightly stronger quakes typically happen somewhere in the state every few years.

Southeastern Arizona has felt larger quakes before, including the historic 1887 Sonoran earthquake south of Douglas. It's unlikely we'll have one quite as dramatic as that one was, but it's good to be prepared in case it does happen.