North Carolina Earthquake Rattles Residents
A rare North Carolina earthquake shakes and rattles residents in several counties and neighboring states. A 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook North Carolina Sunday morning August 9. 2020. Just after 8:00 am the rare earthquake rattled homes, businesses and residents of Sparta, N.C. Sparta is located in Alleghany County in northwestern N.C. Residents of nearby Virginia, and Tennessee also felt the quake. Even residents of South Carolina and Georgia felt the quake. Sunday’s earthquake was the most powerful earthquake to hit North Carolina in more than 100 years.
North Carolina earthquake 2020
Minor Damage Reported
There were no reports of major injuries from this earthquake. There were reports of minor injuries. Minor structural damage was reported. Pictures of damage to homes and businesses were quick to show up on social media and the news. A brick home cracked and buckled during the quake. Dishes fell off shelves and people still in bed reported feeling their beds shake. The earthquake lasted about 10 seconds. Later in the day, there were more reports of residential structural damage, chimneys collapsing, road cracking and a water main that was broke. The Food Lion grocery store in Sparta experienced some damage as items crashed to the floor and broke.
The U.S. Geological Survey did confirm the 5.1 magnitude earthquake Sunday morning, with an epicenter in Sparta, NC. Prior to Sunday morning, the USGS reported there were several foreshocks that were smaller and felt within 15 miles of where the earthquake occurred. An earthquake with a magnitude of 2.6 was reported around 2 a.m. in the Sparta area. The USGS warned of possible aftershocks. Aftershocks can sometimes continue for a week or two after the initial quake.
North Carolina has had twenty-two earthquakes between 1735 and 2014. The largest earthquake in North Carolina was in 1916. The quake was a 5.2 magnitude quake that hit Skyland in Buncombe County, NC.
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- grocery store damage by NC earthquake
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- Sparta home damaged by earthquake
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- Sparta NC earthquake location
8/11/2020 UPDATE: The USGS just reported a 2.9 magnitude aftershock near Sparta today at 4:45 PM!
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