2.7 magnitude earthquake hits Midlothian

Photo courtesy USGS

MIDLOTHIAN — The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed a 2.7 magnitude earthquake shook Midlothian at 2:12 p.m. Thursday afternoon. The epicenter struck four miles west-northwest of Midlothian near FM 661 and Hwy 287 at a depth of three miles.

The tremor in Midlothian follows a swarm of earthquakes striking near the old Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Irving — including 3.5 and 3.6 magnitude quakes on Tuesday.

The USGS shows six earthquakes within 25 miles of Waxahachie since Jan. 1, 2013. Those quakes include:

2.7 magnitude on Jan. 8, 2015, 7km WNW of Midlothian
2.4 magnitude on Oct. 16, 2013, 1km W of Ovilla
2.6 magnitude on March 3, 2013, 3km W of Ovilla
2.7 magnitude on Feb. 24, 2013, 2km W of Ovilla
2.6 magnitude on Feb. 24, 2013, 2km W of Ovilla
2.5 magnitude on Feb. 24, 2013, 7km SSW of Ovilla

Nearby Venus, in Johnson County, experienced a stronger 3.4 magnitude on Nov. 29, 2014 at 11:52 p.m. The quake was three miles NNW of Venus and at a depth of 1.7 miles.