Earthquake felt in southeastern Missouri on Wednesday night
A light earthquake was felt across southeastern Missouri on Wednesday night that scientists believe originated roughly 12 miles outside Poplar Bluff, according to an alert from the United States Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred around 9 p.m. and registered a magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter scale, the standard bar of measurement. Such events typically can be felt as far as 60 miles from the point of origin, but they rarely cause major damage.
People reported feeling its effects for miles away, including in Grandin, Wappapello, Fisk and Greenville. The majority of responses reported to the USGS were in Poplar Bluff, the most populous city within the quake’s estimated range.
Earthquakes in the Ozark Dome Region and Illinois Basin are considered moderately frequent. The area falls along the active New Madrid seismic zone’s northern and western parts, according to USGS.
The most disastrous earthquake in the area’s history was a magnitude 5.4 that caused severe damage to southern Illinois in 1968.
This story was originally published November 17, 2021 at 10:57 PM.
