Stay Eat Events Weather Beaches

Cluster of Seven Quakes Off Oregon Coast, Some Within Minutes

Published 04/29/21 at 5:55 PM PDT
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

Cluster of Seven Quakes Off Oregon Coast, Some Within Minutes

(Bandon, Oregon) – A rather large cluster of underwater quakes hit off the Oregon coast Thursday morning, with four of them within minutes of each other. A total of six occurred between 3 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., while a seventh happened mid afternoon on Wednesday. (Graphic courtesy USGS)

Latest Coastal Lodging News Alerts
In Seaside:
Includes exclusive listings; some specials in summer
In Cannon Beach:
Includes rentals not listed anywhere else
In Manzanita, Wheeler, Rockaway Beach:
Some specials for summer
In Pacific City, Oceanside:
Some specials for summer
In Lincoln City:
Some specials for summer
In Depoe Bay, Gleneden Beach:
Some specials for summer
In Newport:
Look for some specials
In Waldport
Some specials for summer
In Yachats, Florence
Some specials for summer
Southern Oregon Coast Hotels / Lodgings
Reedsport to Brookings, places to stay; summer deals

All of them were about 180 miles west by northwest of Bandon, concentrated in a radius of several miles. Each happened along the Blanco Fracture Zone – which is physically connected to the greater Cascadia Subduction Zone but not directly related to it.

No tsunami alerts were issued. It takes at least a 7.0 magnitude quake to generate a tsunami.

The first was a magnitude 4.4 about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, approximately six miles deep.

The first of the major cluster was a M4.3 quake at 3:25 a.m.

The second took place at 3:30 a.m. and was the largest at M 5.4. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said it received eight responses from the “Did You Feel It” report section of its website.

Third in the cluster was a M5.2 at quake at 3:35 a.m.

20 minutes later, a 5.3 magnitude quake happened at 3:58 a.m., with two reports of it being felt in the south Oregon coast region.

The sixth in the entire series happened at 6:25 a.m., clocking in at M 4.1. At 6:33 a.m., the final undersea shaker happened with a magnitude 3.9.

Earthquake magnitude measurements are extremely wide although the increments may appear small. A 7.0 is 1,000 times bigger than a 4.0, according to the USGS. But it is 31,622 times stronger in its release of energy.

See Oregon, Coast Earthquake Updates - Live Data Oregon, Washington, California, Tsunamis

Around 20 quakes a year are generated by the Blanco Fracture, which makes this essentially business as usual for the hotspot. It's the greater Cascadia fault that is the worrisome section, which will someday release a magnitude 9.0 megathrust and create havoc along the Oregon and Washington coastlines.

Contrary to some popular rumors these days, the Cascadia Subduction Zone is not releasing pressure with these smaller quakes. The big one will come no matter what the smaller faultlines do.


MORE PHOTOS BELOW






Crissey Field, Brookings - courtesy Bonnie Morela



Bandon, courtesy Manuela Durson




Otter Point, Gold Beach

More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

 



Coastal Spotlight


LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles

Oregon / Washington Coast Alerts: Flood Watch, First Big Waves of Season
Floods, lots of rain, high winds and some rather good storm watching, beach safety
Sea Lions Sick with Leptospirosis on Oregon Coast: Keep Pets, Yourselves Away
Stay clear of sick or dead sea lions. Marine sciences, beach safety
Yachats Oktoberfest Takes German Culture on Oregon Coast to New Levels with L...
A kind of accordian-palooza, there's beer, brats, wine and waves, Sept 29 - Oct 1. Yachats events
At Seal Rock's NW Curtis St.: Funky Little Oregon Coast Access with No Name
NW Curtis St., not far from Newport, Yachats or Waldport
Seaside Event Digs Into Mysterious Bayocean, the Oregon Coast Ghost Town
September 28 at 6 p.m. at Seaside Brewing. History, Seasode events, Tillamook
Central Oregon Coast Artist Shows at Florence Visitor Center
Regina 'Reggie' Oflock of Sea Gypsy Cottage Gallery. Florence events
Small Vessel Strands on Central Oregon Coast's South Beach, Cause Unknown
Fishing vessel Judy stuck on a Newport beach. Florence events, Newport events, Lincoln City events, Yachats
SOLVE Cleanup Finds on Oregon Coast Include a Whale
This carcass had been in the news before, victim of orcas. At Otter Rock near Newport. Marine sciences

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted