Magnitude 3.8 earthquake strikes near Saratoga Springs

A magnitude 3.8 earth­quake was reported in Utah earlier this week and was felt by residents in parts of northern Utah, according to federal seismic officials. No injuries or damage were reported.

The earthquake’s epi­center was located near Saratoga Springs, along the west side of Utah Lake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. That location is approximately 220 miles north of Kanab. While the quake was widely felt in Utah County and surrounding areas, it was not reported as being felt in Kane County.

Seismologists said the earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth, which can make shaking more noticeable even at lower magnitudes. Resi­dents near the epicenter reported brief shaking, rumbling sounds and light rattling of objects.

Earthquakes in the mag­nitude 3.0 to 3.9 range are classified as minor. They are commonly felt near the epicenter but rarely cause damage. As a point of comparison, earthquakes generally need to reach about magnitude 5.0 before damage becomes possible, with more serious impacts occurring at higher magnitudes.

Utah experiences fre­quent seismic activity, with hundreds of small earthquakes recorded each year. Many are too small to be felt. The state lies within the Intermountain Seismic Belt, a region of active tec­tonic movement extending from Montana through Utah and into Arizona. One of the most prominent fault systems in the state is the Wasatch Fault, which runs along the western edge of the Wasatch Front.

Experts emphasized that small earthquakes like this one do not predict larger earthquakes in the near term. A single event of this size does not increase or decrease the immediate likelihood of a major quake.

Emergency officials rou­tinely encourage residents to use minor earthquakes as reminders to review ba­sic preparedness measures, including securing heavy furniture, identifying safe places to take cover during shaking and maintaining emergency supplies.

Officials said the earth­quake is consistent with normal background seismic activity in Utah and does not indicate elevated risk at this time.