The quake was initially measured at M5.3 before being upgraded to M5.4, making it one of the strongest earthquakes recorded in this region in recent decades.
The epicenter was located 59 km (37 miles) south of Whites City (population 7) and 89 km (55 miles) south-southwest of Carlsbad (population 28 957), New Mexico.
915 000 people are estimated to have felt light shaking, and 1 982 000 weak.
As of now, there are no reports of significant damage or injuries resulting from the earthquake.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are unreinforced brick masonry and reinforced masonry construction.
The USGS identified this quake as the potential mainshock of an earthquake sequence, with 66 events with magnitudes up to 3.2 detected over the next 4 hours.
According to their forecast, there is a 3% chance of one or more aftershocks larger than magnitude 5, which could be damaging, within the next week. Smaller aftershocks are likely during this period, with up to 19 expected at magnitude 3 or greater. These may be felt in nearby areas. While the overall number of aftershocks is expected to decrease over time, a significant aftershock could temporarily increase seismic activity.
The agency received over 1 500 felt reports from areas as far as 720 km (447 miles) away.
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