Locals in areas of Louisiana were shaken up Thursday by a magnitude 4.9 earthquake, with the history-maker registering as the strongest ever in the state.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake hit at 5:30 a.m. CT around 36 miles from Shreveport, Louisiana towards the southeast, recording a depth of 3.1 miles. (RELATED: I-95 Corridor To Be Blasted With Drenching Rain As Winter-Weary Northeast Starts Seeing Warmer Temperatures)
With over 1,100 reports of earthquake activity thus far, the USGS states that people living as northward as Shreveport, as well as southward as western Texas and southern Arkansas, have experienced tremors.
Currently, it’s unknown if there have been any deaths, injuries or damage.
If you’re in or near northwestern Louisiana and felt (or didn’t feel) the earthquake on the morning of March 5, please let us know! https://t.co/QOlXTgOFeT pic.twitter.com/kpbFPVvjo6
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) March 5, 2026
In a Facebook video, the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office noted how strong the quake was, declaring it as the “largest recorded earthquake on Louisiana soil.”
Over the last few years, the region has had multiple earthquakes on the smaller side, according to officials. The majority were minor events, however, any experience is a refresher that quakes can happen at any time out of the blue. (RELATED: Echinus, Earth’s Biggest Acidic Geyser, Erupts For First Time Since 2020 At Yellowstone National Park)
The Sheriff’s Office and Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) Director Shane Hubbard have been in communication, and in response to the earthquake, are in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
At this time, no other information regarding the earthquake has been made available.