Lyon County crews began assessing roads, utilities and other critical infrastructure after a preliminary 5.5 to 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Silver Springs Monday evening, with officials reporting no major damage but launching precautionary inspections across the county.
The quake, centered just southeast of Lahontan Reservoir, was widely felt in Silver Springs, Fallon, Fernley and surrounding areas. Residents as far away as Sparks, Spanish Springs, Sun Valley, Carson City, Reno and Lake Tahoe also reported light shaking.
Lyon County Emergency Management activated coordination efforts with local public safety agencies, utilities, school districts and healthcare facilities shortly after the quake. As of Monday night, no major damage had been reported to critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, transportation systems or utility services.
“Out of an abundance of caution,” the county said, response crews would conduct detailed damage assessments over the next several days to check roads, bridges, water systems and other essential services for issues that may not be immediately visible.
The county also advised residents to inspect their homes for damage such as gas leaks, broken utilities or structural issues that may not be immediately noticed.
The United States Geological Survey initially measured the quake at magnitude 5.5, while the Nevada Seismological Laboratory (NSL) reported a preliminary 5.5 as well, with some automated systems listing it as high as 5.7. Early magnitudes often shift as more seismic data is analyzed.
The quake occurred at a shallow depth of about 5.6 miles (13 km), contributing to the widespread reports of shaking.
The main quake was followed by a burst of seismic activity. As of Tuesday morning, NSL reported hundreds of aftershocks in close proximity east of the southern end of Lahontan Reservoir.
Earthquake Track also indicated as many as 25 quakes in the Fallon, Fernley, Lovelock and Silver Springs areas in the 24 hours preceding the larger event.
Monitoring agencies are continuing to refine magnitude estimates and gather reports from across the region. Lyon County officials said they will release updates as assessment teams complete their evaluations.
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