Mild earthquakes hitting Virginia City area

A series of mild earthquakes has hit the area just north of Virginia City this week.

The University of Nevada, Reno’s Seismological Laboratory reported the first quake, a 3.1-magnitude temblor, about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday about 9 miles north-northeast of Virginia City.

A second quake was reported at 11 p.m. Wednesday. This one, at magnitude 3.0, hit about 8 miles north-northeast of Virginia City. A third quake, at magnitude 2.6, hit at 2:25 a.m. Thursday. That was followed Thursday by one at magnitude 3.1 at 2:32 a.m., at magnitude 3.0 at 3:22 a.m. and at magnitude 2.6 at 3:42 a.m. All hit about 8 miles north-northeast of Virginia City.

A magnitude-2.1 quake hit at 12:42 p.m. in the same area.

The larger events have been felt in Virginia City about 8 miles to the southwest and in Reno about 10 miles west of the swarm. There have been no reports of damage, according to the UNR seismological lab.

“The activity notably increased late (Wednesday) night and (Thursday) morning,” said Ken Smith, seismic network manager and associate director of the seismological lab.“We’re monitoring the swarm closely and updating local emergency-management officials in case this sequence evolves to a larger, damaging earthquake.”

The Nevada Seismological Lab, the Nevada Division of Emergency Management/Homeland Security, Carson City Emergency Management, Storey County Emergency Management and Washoe County Emergency Management are working together to monitor the seismic events.

The Nevada-Eastern California region has a history of large, damaging earthquakes. Information is at the Great Nevada Shakeout website, readywashoe.com or ready.gov.

The quakes have been accompanied by more than 100 other events since Jan. 21.