A magnitude 2.9 earthquake rattled South Carolina’s Lowcountry on Saturday, shaking homes and prompting residents to question what was behind the event.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake was centered near Summerville in Dorchester County and was fairly shallow.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 2.9 is considered to be minor, meaning little to no damage was expected, but its shallow nature can ensure communities far from the epicenter feel the event.
The National Weather Service office in Charleston took to social media to report on the seismic activity and asked residents whether they felt the shaking.
Locals described the event as sounding similar to a vehicle striking their home or a door slamming loudly.
Reports of shaking were received from a wide stretch of the Lowcountry, including North Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville and other neighborhoods along Interstate 26.
Local law enforcement said they were inundated with calls from concerned residents, but despite the reports, no damage had been encountered as of Saturday evening.
While earthquakes are not often top of mind for South Carolinians, the Palmetto State is no stranger to seismic activity.
According to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the state typically experiences around 10 and 15 earthquakes every year, with a few that are notable.
The state is home to many fault lines, some of which are believed by seismologists to have formed during the Paleozoic Era roughly 300 million years ago.
The most active region is the Charleston-Summerville area, which previously produced the largest earthquake ever to strike the U.S. East Coast.
In 1886, the powerful quake was estimated to be between a magnitude 7.0 and 7.3, leading to catastrophic damage and claiming dozens of lives around Charleston.
According to USGS data, at least three earthquakes have occurred in South Carolina since the start of the year, including a magnitude 2.3 event that happened in early in February not far from the location of Saturday’s quake.
Similarly, no damage was reported from the Feb. 3 quake, but it was strong enough for residents to take notice.
