GREENVILLE, S.C. —
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake was reported in North Carolina Sunday morning, but could be felt across the region.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake at 8:07 a.m in Sparta, North Carolina.
Sparta is in Alleghany County, near the Virginia/North Carolina line.
Salon shakes after North Carolina earthquake !
INCREDIBLE! Surveillance footage caught the moment that a 5.1 magnitude earthquake rattled Just for Looks Salon in Sparta, North Carolina, just after 8 a.m. Sunday morning.
The depth of the quake measured at 9.2 km, roughly six miles.
According to reports from the USGS, the quake was felt in many areas including as far north as Lynchburg, Virginia; as far south as Greenville, South Carolina; as far east as Durham and as far west as Knoxville, Tennessee.
Dozens of people emailed and called the WYFF News 4 newsroom reporting what they felt.
(Video below: North Carolina Earthquake Garage Camera)
Many WYFF News 4 employees also felt it at their homes in several parts of the area.
“It felt like a big locomotive going by and a big wave coming underneath the bed,” said Sparta Mayor Wes Brinegar, who was awakened by the quake. “A big wave coming to lift you.”
There are no immediate reports of injuries, but there is some minor damage in the town of about 1,800 people, he said.
“Cracked foundation, and stuff falling off shelves in houses,” Brinegar said. “I’ve lived here my whole life and have never felt anything like that.”
Town Councilman Cole Edwards, too, was jolted awake by the quake, he said. There was no damage to his home, but it broke some dishes and knocked some pictures off of the wall, he said.
“We’ve had a lot of scared folks this morning,” the mayor said. “That was the most intense one we’ve ever had.”
There was a earthquake reported in the same area on Saturday.
More aftershocks could continue near the epicenter of the main shock, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
“When there are more earthquakes, the chance of a large earthquake is greater which means that the chance of damage is greater,” the U.S. Geological Survey said. “According to our forecast, over the next 1 Week there is a 4 % chance of one or more aftershocks that are larger than magnitude 5.1. It is likely that there will be smaller earthquakes over the next 1 Week, with … magnitude 3 or higher aftershocks. ”
USGS says the largest earthquake in the N.C. area (magnitude 5.1) occurred in 1916. Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two.
