Magnitude 4.5 earthquake strikes remote area of central Nevada

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake has been recorded in a remote area of central Nevada, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). No damage or injuries are expected.

The earthquake struck at 7:39 p.m. local time on Monday and was centered in a remote part of central Nevada, about 51 miles northeast of Tonopah and roughly 200 miles northwest of Las Vegas, according to the USGS. It struck at a shallow depth of about 4 miles.

The epicenter was in a mostly unpopulated area, though weak to light shaking may have been felt in nearby communities, including Tonopah, Ely and Eureka.

Several aftershocks have followed, including a magnitude 3.5 tremor that struck shortly after the main shock.

Nevada regularly experiences moderate earthquakes, especially in its central and western regions, where active faults run through remote desert and mountain areas.

In April, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck east of Carson City, with strong shaking reported near the epicenter and minor damage reported at historic buildings in Fallon and Fort Churchill, according to local media reports. It was followed last Friday by a magnitude 5.2 earthquake in the same region.