At least 17 earthquakes have been recorded near the highly classified Area 51 military base in Nevada over the past 24 hours, sparking unfounded conspiracy theories about secret nuclear testing. The quakes ranged from 2.5 to 4.4 in magnitude and struck within miles of the facility, which is adjacent to the Nevada Test Site where the US tested nuclear weapons from 1951 to 1992.
The largest earthquake, a 4.4-magnitude event, occurred 2.5 miles below ground just after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, followed by over a dozen smaller tremors, according to the US Geological Survey. More than 100 people reported feeling the quakes.
Geophysicist Stefan Burns claimed in a video on X that the 4.4 quake was in “an unusual place to get an earthquake” and was particularly shallow. While he noted it was likely natural, he said there was “some ambiguity” in the seismic data, making it “worth discussing in the context of ‘if this is a covert underground nuclear test.’”
Conspiracy theorists have long speculated that aliens are held at Area 51, but more recently have questioned whether the US government has resumed testing at the site. Burns’ video prompted reactions such as “The GOVT is up to NO GOOD” and “Area 51 is most likely nuclear testing not aliens.”
The earthquake swarm comes amid broader conspiracy theories about a series of US scientists who have died or disappeared in recent years. Online sleuths have examined about 12 cases, believing the individuals were targeted due to their work with sensitive topics, including nuclear weapons. The FBI and Congress are now investigating possible connections between the cases.
