Shortly after 8 a.m. Sunday, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook the ground a few miles southeast of Sparta, North Carolina, right along the North Carolina-Virginia border, according to the preliminary survey by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The earthquake’s epicenter was in Allegheny County, North Carolina. The earthquake was also felt by those in southwest Virginia, Tennessee and as far south as Atlanta, Georgia.
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USGS has issued a green alert, meaning there’s a low likelihood of casualties and damage. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
It was the largest earthquake to hit North Carolina since 1916, when a magnitude 5.5 quake occurred near Skyland, the National Weather Service said.
Earlier Sunday morning, the USGS reported a 2.6 magnitude earthquake close by in Sparta, North Carolina.
If you felt the 5.1 Sparta, NC earthquake then be sure to submit a “Did You Feel It” report. Keep up to date on any changes at: https://t.co/VDWMntMTno pic.twitter.com/p1H4lEtgae
— USGS (@USGS) August 9, 2020
The Associated Press contributed to this report.