Large earthquakes rare in New Mexico

SOCORRO, N.M. (KRQE) - An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale gave the Raton area an early-morning jolt on Monday, but that quake is nothing compared to some of the earthquakes that have rattled the state in the past.

Most of those earthquakes have hit the Socorro area. The United States Geological Survey said the Socorro area is still considered the earthquake capital of New Mexico.

The most significant earthquakes occurred in 1906 and 1907. The Richter scale was not in use at the time, but estimates show those quakes reached 5.8 and 6.1 respectively.

Despite its past, the USGS says the chances of another big one, above 6.0, occurring in Socorro in the next 50 years is still small.

"It does seem like a low probability for New Mexico," Susan Potter of the USGS told News 13. "The largest percent for the state would be an 8 to 10 percent probability."

Potter went on to explain that Socorro is the area with that 8 to 10 percent probability. There are also areas around Santa Fe that also have similar probabilities of at 6.0 earthquake in the next 50 years.

However, those probabilities are low compared to other states.

Most residents are already aware Socorro is the earthquake capital of New Mexico, especially since Socorro-based New Mexico Tech has a department dedicated to seismology and the study of earthquakes.

"It's hard to live in Socorro and not know that," Jordan Peretter told News 13 while shopping in Brooks Grocery Store in downtown Socorro on Monday. "We have earthquakes every few years. You can sorta feel them, but they're not big ones."

That feeling was shared by other grocery shoppers. Even James Sanchez, the assistant manager of Brooks Grocery, tells News 13 he's not concern there will be an earthquake sending items flying off the shelves.

When told about the 4.1 earthquake in the Raton area earlier in the day, he said, "It does make me wonder when a bigger one is going to hit."

But, only after a "big one" hit would Sanchez be concerned.