Artesian, South Dakota — A minor earthquake was recorded near the town of Artesian in southeastern South Dakota on Friday, according to federal seismologists.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 2.8 earthquake struck about 5 kilometers (3 miles) east-northeast of Artesian in Sanborn County. The quake occurred Friday morning at approximately 6:35 a.m. local time and originated at a shallow depth of about 5.1 kilometers.
The event was reviewed by the USGS National Earthquake Information Center and classified as a small, shallow earthquake. No injuries, damage, or service disruptions were reported as of Friday afternoon.
The USGS “Did You Feel It?” system initially showed no public intensity reports, suggesting the quake may not have been widely felt. Earthquakes below magnitude 3.0 are often detectable by instruments but go unnoticed by most residents, especially in rural areas.
South Dakota experiences infrequent seismic activity compared to western states, though small earthquakes do occur periodically due to ancient fault systems beneath the region. Events of this size rarely cause damage.
No immediate aftershocks were listed in the minutes following the quake, but seismologists continue to monitor regional activity.
For local commuters and early-morning workers, the timing meant any shaking would have occurred before peak travel hours, limiting potential impact.
Residents who believe they felt the earthquake are encouraged to submit reports through the USGS website, which helps scientists better understand seismic behavior in low-activity regions.
