Aftershocks continue to shake the Magna region 3 years after the magnitude 5.7 earthquake

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Images of bricks that fell from a wall at Cyprus High School were taken during the 5.7-magnitude earthquake and aftershocks on April 6, 2020. Wednesday’s 2.5-magnitude earthquake was another aftershock associated with the main earthquake in March 2020. (Christine Murphy, USA TODAY) Deseret News)

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Magna – No, that wasn’t your imagination – the Magna region is still experiencing aftershocks associated with a large 5.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the region three years ago.

Seismograph officials at the University of Utah have confirmed that a small 2.5-magnitude earthquake that struck the Magna region late Wednesday morning was another aftershock associated with the much larger quake in March of 2020. In fact, they note, the small quake is the largest of the four that have been reported. Earthquakes reported during the past day, all centered in the ground just north of Route 201 near 7200 West.

More than 50 people reported feeling the earthquake, although no damage or injuries were reported. The depth of the earthquake is about 6.5 miles underground.

Mark Hill, a seismologist at the University of Utah’s seismograph stations, wrote in a statement that it was four of the roughly 2,800 aftershocks since the 2020 earthquake. That includes another notable magnitude 2.5 earthquake that shook the area in June 2022.

“Although the aftershocks have slowed considerably, the earthquake rate near Magna is still above the level of background seismicity, indicating that the aftershock sequence is still ongoing,” he wrote. “It is normal for aftershocks to continue for years after an earthquake of this magnitude.”

The initial shock occurred right as Utah’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic began, resulting in millions of dollars in structural and general infrastructure damage. It also helped researchers better understand the Wasatch Fault that lies under Salt Lake County, including that it is less deep than originally thought.

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Carter Williams is an award-winning reporter covering general news, outdoors, history, and sports for KSL.com.

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