Middlesboro, Kentucky – Residents across far southeastern Kentucky and parts of northeastern Tennessee felt a brief jolt Sunday evening as a small earthquake struck near the state line, rattling homes but causing no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake measured magnitude 2.6 and occurred about 10 kilometers southwest of Middlesboro at a depth of roughly 15 miles. The shaking was recorded Tuesday night and was shallow enough to be noticed in nearby communities despite its relatively low magnitude.
The epicenter was located near the Kentucky–Tennessee border, with light shaking reported around Middlesboro, Cumberland Gap, and into portions of Claiborne County, Tennessee. Residents in the Knoxville area were unlikely to feel the quake, though seismic instruments detected it across a wider portion of eastern Tennessee and southern Kentucky.
Local emergency management agencies indicated no disruptions to roads, utilities, or infrastructure. Events of this size are common in the Appalachian region and typically do not cause damage, though they can be startling for residents unaccustomed to earthquakes.
Officials say no aftershocks are expected, but residents who felt shaking are encouraged to submit reports to the USGS to help improve regional seismic monitoring. Authorities will continue to monitor activity along the border region, though no additional alerts are currently in effect.
