Nevada earthquake alert mistakenly issued

On Thursday, residents in northern Nevada received an earthquake warning that turned out to be incorrect, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed. At 8:06 a.m. local time, the USGS initially reported a magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Carson City, the states capital.

The warning extended as far as the San Francisco Bay Area, nearly 200 miles away, prompting automated safety messages urging people to take cover. Minutes later, the alert was rescinded and the corresponding entry was removed from the USGS website.

"No M5.9 earthquake occurred near Carson City, NV," the USGS stated on X. The false alert originated from the agencys automated earthquake detection system, which mistakenly generated the report. Officials believe this is the first instance of the USGS issuing a fully inaccurate earthquake alert.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the system error. Law enforcement in nearby cities and counties confirmed that no seismic activity was observed. For reference, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake typically produces noticeable shaking and minor property damage, according to the Michigan Tech Earthquake Magnitude Scale.

Author: Maya Henderson