Mysterious earthquake swarm near Area 51 sparks conspiracy theories about secret testing

At least 17 earthquakes have been recorded in the vicinity of Nevada’s highly classified Area 51 over the past 24 hours, prompting unfounded conspiracy theories about secret nuclear testing.

The swarm of quakes ranged from 2.5 to 4.4 in magnitude and struck within miles of the mysterious military base, famed for conspiracy theories that aliens and UFOs are hidden at the facility.

Area 51 is adjacent to the Nevada Test Site, where the U.S. tested nuclear weapons from 1951 to 1992.

The 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck 2.5 miles below ground just after 3 p.m. Wednesday, followed by over a dozen smaller quakes, according to U.S. Geological Survey data.

More than 100 people reported feeling the quakes to the USGS.