Effects of March earthquake in Mexico register in Nevada, officials say

By Conor Shine

Thursday, April 5, 2012 | 7:12 p.m.

Ripples from a powerful earthquake last month that struck Oaxaca, Mexico, were felt all the way into Nevada, officials said Thursday.

Effects from the 7.4-magnitude quake, which struck Oaxaca on March 20, were recorded at Devil’s Hole, a part of Death Valley National Park in the Amargosa Valley, about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

According to a release from the National Park Service, the effects became noticeable in a subterranean cave at the park about 10 minutes after the quake initially struck Oaxaca, and continued for about 20 minutes.

In a video posted online, waves can be seen in the subterranean pool as the water was rocked back and forth by the seismic activity.

Devil’s Hole is home to the endangered Devil’s Hole pupfish, but park officials said it’s unlikely the earthquake damaged the habitat.

At least two people were killed in the initial quake and thousands of homes were destroyed in Oaxaca, which is in the southwest part of Mexico, 1,700 miles from Las Vegas.

Seismic activity at the Nevada portion of Death Valley National Park is rare, according to the release, but the effects of another earthquake in September 1999 that also originated in Oaxaca were recorded there.