Aftershocks from the largest North Carolina earthquake in over 100 years continue to rattle the region around Sparta, NC.
17 of those earthquakes measured 2.0 or larger on the richter scale, with the largest measuring 5.1 on August 9th (the last time a quake that large was detected was 1916).
The USGS’s ‘Did You Feel It’ map showed that people reported feeling the quake as far away as Alabama and Pennsylvania:
Because August 9th’s quake was so large, it’s aftershocks will likely continue for some time, and could even trigger other quakes around our state.
According to the USGA, “Aftershocks can continue over a period of weeks, months, or years. In general, the larger the mainshock, the larger and more numerous the aftershocks, and the longer they will continue.”
Earthquakes have been increasing in frequency around the Charlotte region over the past few years. Last year, we saw a 4.4 magnitude quake hit Decatur, TN, and a couple months ago, a 2.6 magnitude quake rocked a small town just north of Charlotte.
