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Hundreds Report Shaking from Stronger Earthquake Outside of Charleston, South Carolina

by Michael Konowicz -

Today's earthquake struck at the orange dot inside the concentric colored circles. Image: USGS
Today’s earthquake struck at the orange dot inside the concentric colored circles. Image: USGS

According to USGS, another stronger earthquake struck South Carolina on Wednesday night  north and west of the city of Charleston in the town of Ladson; more than 350 people reported to them that they felt/heard it.  This latest quake struck at 9 pm from a depth of 3.4 km; it was rated a magnitude 2.5 event.  This is the 6th earthquake to strike this area in the last 4 weeks and the second strongest; the strongest hit on February 7th as a magnitude 2.9 event.

Today’s earthquake struck north and west where an infamous earthquake struck Charleston in 1886 which is considered the worst earthquake to ever strike the eastern United States.

The recent swarm of earthquakes outside of Charleston have struck inside this box, with the most recent earthquakes the closest to Charleston. Image: USGS
The recent swarm of earthquakes outside of Charleston have struck inside this box, with the most recent earthquakes the closest to Charleston. Image: USGS

Generally, earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.0 or greater can be felt by most people. Earthquakes generally need a much greater intensity than that to do any harm. There have been no reports of damage or injuries from today’s quake.

According to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD), there are approximately 10-15 earthquakes every year in South Carolina, with most not felt by residents; on average, only 3-5 are felt each year. Most of  South Carolina’s earthquakes are located in the Middleton Place-Summerville Seismic Zone. The two most significant historical earthquakes to occur in South Carolina were the 1886 Charleston-Summerville quake and the 1913 Union County quake. The 1886 earthquake in Charleston was the most damaging earthquake to ever occur in the eastern United States; it was also the most destructive earthquake in the U.S. during the 19th century.

The 1886 earthquake damaged these structures on Tradd Street in Charleston, South Carolina. Image: USGS
The 1886 earthquake damaged these structures on Tradd Street in Charleston, South Carolina. Image: USGS

 

The 1886 earthquake struck at about 9:50 pm  on August 31; it was estimated to have been rated a magnitude 6.9 – 7.3 seismic event.  The earthquake was felt as far away as Boston, Massachusetts to the north, Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to the northwest, and New Orleans, Louisiana to the south. The earthquake energy even traveled as far away as Cuba and Bermuda, where some shaking was felt too.  The initial earthquake lasted about 45 seconds.

The 1886 Charleston earthquake was responsible for 60 deaths and over $190 million (in 2023 dollars) in damage. The area of major damage extended out 60-100 miles from the epicenter, with some structural damage even reported in central Alabama, Ohio, eastern Kentucky, southern Virginia, and western West Virginia from the initial quake.

A study published in 2008 in the Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering hypothesized that if such an earthquake were to strike the region today, it would lead to approximately 900 deaths, 44,000 injuries, and damages in excess of $20 billion in South Carolina alone.