06/08/2025 / By Ava Grace
In the quiet mountain town of Stanley, Idaho – home to fewer than 150 people – the earth has been restless. More than 35 earthquakes, ranging from 1.9 to 4.0 in magnitude, shook the region in a span of 24 hours.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the tremors originated near the Sawtooth Fault, a geological “sleeping giant” capable of unleashing catastrophic quakes. While no major damage was reported, the sheer frequency of these quakes has scientists on edge, raising urgent questions about what comes next.
The Sawtooth Fault, stretching 40 miles through central Idaho, was only definitively mapped in 2010—proof that even in an age of advanced technology, nature still holds secrets. Unlike California’s infamous San Andreas Fault, the Sawtooth remains dormant for decades, even centuries, before suddenly reawakening.
Its last major rupture in 2020 – a 6.5 magnitude quake – sent tremors across six states, collapsing beaches and triggering landslides. Now, the recent relentless seismic swarm suggests the fault may be stirring again. (Related: Historic rains and flooding push California fault lines toward the “Big One.”)
Earthquake swarms – clusters of quakes in a short period – are not uncommon. But what makes this event unusual is its persistence and location. Idaho state geologist Claudio Berti warned that such concentrated activity often reveals hidden fault lines, offering scientists critical data but also raising alarms.
While most quakes in this swarm were too weak to cause damage, their sheer number suggests mounting pressure beneath the surface. The critical question: Is this a prelude to something bigger?
The Sawtooth Fault is capable of producing a magnitude 7.0 or greater earthquake, enough to devastate towns and send violent tremors hundreds of miles away. The 2020 quake, though not the worst-case scenario, caused dramatic changes to Stanley Lake’s landscape.
Following the 2020 tremor, entire beaches vanished due to liquefaction – a phenomenon where waterlogged soil turns to liquid under seismic stress. If a larger quake strikes, Idaho’s sparse population may limit casualties. But infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and dams could face catastrophic failure.
The Gem State is no stranger to earthquakes. In 1983, a 6.9 magnitude quake near Borah Peak killed two and caused millions in damage. The 2020 event proved that even lesser-known faults can pack a punch.
Yet despite these warnings, many Americans remain unaware of the seismic risks outside the West Coast. The Sawtooth Fault’s recent activity serves as a stark reminder: Earth’s crust is always shifting, and complacency is not an option.
Scientists cannot predict earthquakes, but they can prepare. Berti noted that seismic swarms like this one help illuminate hidden fault lines, improving future hazard maps.
For now, residents are urged to review emergency plans, secure heavy furniture and keep supplies ready. While the immediate danger appears low, history shows that when the earth speaks this loudly, it pays to listen.
Visit Disaster.news for more similar stories.
Watch this video about the Sawtooth’s Fault movement in 2020, which translated into a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that year.
This video is from the ZGolden Report channel on Brighteon.com.
Surviving natural disasters: Earthquake and tsunami scenarios.
Study: An earthquake in Oregon fault could rupture the surface.
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dangerous, disaster, earthquake, environ, fault lines, Idaho, major earthquake, preparedness, prepping, Sawtooth Fault, seismic activity, seismology, Stanley, survival, tectonic plates, the big one
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