What you need to know about earthquakes
Every year there are about 500,000 earthquakes – 100,000 of which are felt on the earth’s surface. But how do earthquakes work? We explain.
Just frequently asked questions
South Carolina was shaken by several earthquakes on Wednesday, including the two strongest earthquakes so far in a “swarm” of earthquakes that shook the state this year.
Two earthquakes, which are unusually strong for the region, hit Central South Carolina on Wednesday – with a magnitude of 3.5 and a magnitude of 3.6, according to data from the United States Geological Survey. A magnitude 3.4 earthquake also shook the state over the weekend.
The quakes were the strongest to hit the state in years, and at least one of Wednesday’s quakes could be felt near Charlotte, North Carolina, according to reports released by the United States Geological Survey.
In a video shared by the state’s emergency management department, geologist Wendy Bohon said more than 30 earthquakes had hit the state this year, part of a “swarm of earthquakes.” Such swarms are common in more earthquake-prone areas, but uncommon in the south.
A swarm in South Carolina lasted more than half a year and included seven earthquakes with a magnitude of more than 3, according to seismologist Lucy Jones.
“Swarms occur in all seismic regions and earthquakes continue until they stop,” Jones tweeted. “It may not seem helpful, but knowing it’s normal can help.”
The latest quakes occurred near Elgin, South Carolina, according to the US Geological Survey. The city is located about 20 miles northeast of Colombia, the state capital.
“MAY HAPPEN TOMORROW”: Experts know disaster after disaster looms for the West Coast
The last earthquake shook the residents of the state with greater force in 2014, according to historical data of the agency.
The magnitude 3.5 earthquake was felt about 70 miles north, across the state border near Charlotte, according to reports collected by the USGS.
South Carolina has several fault systems and is “one of the most seismically active states on the East Coast,” tweeted the state’s emergency management department.
The agency’s earthquake guide said the 1886 earthquake in the Charleston area “was the largest event in the southeastern United States and the most devastating, killing 60 people.”
The quake was estimated at 7.3 on the Richter scale – similar to the dangerous “Big”, which is expected to one day devastate Southern California.
Add Comment