SCA’s Greenwood CountyFollowing several months of relative calm, a string of earthquakes has resurfaced in Greenwood County, reigniting seismic worries in one of South Carolina’s most seismically active areas.
An location that had previously been the epicenter of dozens of tremors in 2022 and early 2023 was shaken by two small earthquakes that were reported just hours apart on Wednesday. The first earthquake, which had a magnitude of 2.1, occurred at 7:21 a.m. close to the hamlet of Ninety Six. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that just after 3 p.m., a second, greater magnitude 2.5 earthquake with an epicenter southeast of the first one occurred.
Residents in the vicinity of Ninety Six and the neighboring Greenwood County area reported feeling the rumbling, however there were no reports of serious injuries or significant damage.
A Seismic Hotspot in the Palmetto State
Seismic activity is not new to this part of South Carolina. More than 80 earthquakes struck the state between late 2021 and mid-2023, many of which were concentrated in the neighboring town of Elgin in Kershaw County, which is slightly over an hour east of Greenwood.
Seismologists from all across the Southeast were alerted to the most intense cluster, which began in December 2021 and lasted for several months. During that time, there were a few earthquakes that were stronger than 3.0, which raised concerns about future tremors.
Despite being outside of the more well-known fault zones like California’s, experts pointed out that South Carolina is located close to the Eastern Piedmont Fault System, which is a less active but potentially hazardous area.
Why Is This Happening Now?
According to seismologists, the region’s frequent earthquakes are probably caused by natural movement along long-gone fault lines that are buried well below the surface. Even though these motions can be slight and erratic, they can nonetheless cause detectable tremors.
Even at minor magnitudes, the two earthquakes in this week’s events were more noticeable due to their shallow depth (estimated at about 3 miles). This explains why, in spite of their low seismic ratings, so many people claimed to have felt the quakes.
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division advises citizens to study earthquake safety precautions even though there is no proof that these earthquakes are precursors to a more significant occurrence.
Should Residents Be Concerned?
The pattern of recurring activity raises concerns about long-term seismic trends in South Carolina, even if an earthquake of magnitude 2.1 or 2.5 is typically not powerful enough to inflict structural damage.
The South Carolina Geological Survey states that because of the region’s outdated infrastructure and soil conditions that magnify ground motion, even moderate earthquakes in the 4.0–5.0 range have the potential to cause damage.
Emergency officials recommend
:
- Securing heavy furniture and electronics
- Having an emergency supply kit ready
- Knowing safe spots to shelter in your home (like under sturdy tables or against interior walls)
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