STANLEY, Idaho — A swarm of at least 15 small earthquakes shook the Stanley area of Central Idaho between June 2 and 3, with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 4.0, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). State geologists are calling the cluster an “unusual flurry” and are closely monitoring the activity.
The quakes, centered around the Basin Butte area north of Stanley, are not connected to the 6.5 magnitude earthquake that struck near Cape Horn Mountain in 2020—Idaho’s second-largest on record. That historic event led to the installation of advanced monitoring equipment in Central Idaho, now enabling detection of these smaller tremors.
Idaho State Geologist Claudio Berti said the current sequence may not pose a major risk but is strong enough to be felt, especially indoors. He added that while clusters like this don’t predict future earthquakes, they help geologists identify hidden fault lines and better understand the state’s seismic activity.
Idaho is one of the most earthquake-prone states in the U.S., particularly in its central regions. Berti emphasized the importance of public awareness and earthquake preparedness in light of these events.
