Earthquake Swarm Continues off Oregon Coast

The earthquake swarm is continuing off the Oregon coast, with dozens of shakers just within the last 24 hours.  

 Alex Hutko, a seismologist with the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network tells KXL even though this earthquake swarm seems unusual, it’s not a sign that the big one’s coming.   “They’re happening rather continuously,” he says.   They’re on the Blanco Fracture Zone, which is not connected to the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which could produce a major earthquake.

He explains why this type of earthquake does not produce tsunamis. “This is what’s called transform faulting where the blocks move side to side, past each other. And in order to generate tsunamis you need vertical motion of the sea floor.”

He says the swarm is a reminder that everyone in the Pacific Northwest should create, and check on, earthquake kits, including water, food and tarps.

You can hear more about the earthquake swarm and efforts to get bridges and roads earthquake-ready in our area, this coming Sunday morning at 7 on Speaking Freely with Annette Newell.