5.1 magnitude earthquake rocks North Carolina

MURPHY, NC – At 8:07 a.m. on August 9, 2020, many North Carolinians were rattled by a 5.1 magnitude earthquake, originating two miles outside of Sparta, NC.

According to the National Weather Service, this quake is the strongest to hit NC since 1916. It was 5.2. magnitude earthquake in Buncombe county and it toppled chimneys and people ran into the streets

At this time, no injuries or major damage have been reported. If you felt it, report it to the USGS. 

Residents from Murphy and Hayesville have reported experiencing tremors at the time of the earthquake. Additionally, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee felt the effects of the morning quake. Georgia reports include Dahlonega and as far as Fayetteville.

Sparta is 272 miles from Murphy, NC, 264 miles from Hayesville, and 165 miles from Asheville. The city sits close to the NC/Tenn. line.

Another smaller 2.6 magnitude earthquake occurred in the same area at 1:57 a.m.

National Weather Service out of Raleigh has also reported three other possible quakes in Guilford, Randolph, and Moore counties.

If you felt the earthquake this morning or experienced any damage, please let us know!

The most recent earthquake in the Triangle was in 2011 in Virginia. Its magnitude was 5.8.