Earthquake shakes central Oklahoma

An earthquake measuring magnitude 5.0 shook central Oklahoma on Sunday, causing damage to a number of buildings.

The epicentre of the quake struck the city of Cushing, about 50 miles (80km) northeast of Oklahoma City, at 19:44 local time (01:44 GMT Monday).

Tremors were felt as far away as Texas.

Authorities in Cushing reported “quite of bit of damage”, and schools in the city will be closed on Monday so that buildings can be checked.

Photographs posted on Twitter showed debris scattered alongside commercial buildings in the city.

There have been 19 earthquakes in Oklahoma in the past week, according to data provided by the US Geological Survey.

In September, a magnitude 5.6 quake in the state fuelled concerns that seismic activity in the area was connected to energy production.

In 2013, scientists linked the underground injection of oil drilling wastewater to a magnitude-5.7 earthquake that struck Oklahoma in 2011.

Cushing, which has a population of about 7,900, is home to one of the largest oil storage facilities in the US.

Source: BBc