NELSONVILLE, Ohio – There were no reports of injuries or damage after an earthquake rumbled under southeast Ohio Wednesday afternoon.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the 3.5-magnitude quake occurred close to 1:00 p.m. The epicenter was about two miles southeast of the town of Nelsonville, shaking much of Athens County, but it was also felt as far north as Columbus.
Mild earthquakes are common in Ohio, occurring every two or three years, WCMH-TV (NBC4) meteorologist Ben Gelber said. Approximately 250 quakes have been recorded in Ohio since the late 1700’s, Gelber said.
This one was accompanied by a sonic boom, which is not always associated with earthquakes.
“Ohio earthquakes are very shallow, generally three to six miles down, so the first seismic waves can come up to the surface…and that translates into sound energy,” he said.
Geophysicist John Bellini described the quake as “light.” He says people in the area might have felt a quick jolt, while some unstable items could have fallen from desks or shelves. He says earthquakes must register at a 4.5 magnitude to cause any significant damage.
The Athens County emergency management agency says it received a number of 911 calls about the event but no immediate reports of damage. Ohio University says its Athens campus felt the earthquake but there was no damage to facilities reported.
The earthquake happened along a fault line blamed for a large temblor in 1886.