Thursday, April 24, 2025

Earthquake rocks Ohio city that sits on top ancient fault line


Earthquake rocks Ohio city that sits on top ancient fault line


An earthquake measuring a 3.1 magnitude has hit outside the capital city of Ohio

The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the tremor 77 miles east of Columbus at 3:14pm ET.

The region sits atop an ancient fault line, a pre-existing weakness in the Earth's crust that can be reactivated by tectonic stress, making it more prone to earthquakes. The USGS shows 'weak' to 'light' shaking was felt around the epicenter in Cambridge

Another earthquake hit the same around on Tuesday, also measuring a 3.1 magnitude. 

An assessment from Michigan Tech University showed that people typically do not feel quakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or less.

Those from 2.5 to 5.4 are often felt but only cause minor damage.

However, no injuries or damages have been reported following Thursday's quake.

The fault line near Cambridge is known as the Burning Springs-Cambridge fault zone that formed more than 4.6 million years ago.

The 31-foot fault extends from West Virginia through eastern Ohio.

The USGS shows Thursday's quake hit at a shallow depth of two miles.

The shallower an earthquake, the more damage it can produce at the surface.

The 3.1 magnitude earthquake that hit on April 22 was centered about 1.2 miles southeast of Pleasant City in Noble County and occurred at a depth of three miles. 

No injuries or damages were reported. 

While the epicenter sits on an ancient fault, Ohio is also home to fracking that has been linked to earthquakes.

Ohio has experienced eight earthquakes of magnitudes above 2 and up to 3.1 since the start of 2025.

The Ohio Geological Survey released a new report this week, showing the state experienced 129 earthquakes last year.



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