West Salem, Illinois – Residents across southern Illinois were jolted awake before sunrise Monday after a magnitude 3.5 earthquake struck near West Salem, with shaking reported well beyond the epicenter into Indiana and western Kentucky.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 2:05 a.m. CDT (07:05 UTC) and was centered about 6 kilometers (4 miles) northeast of West Salem in Edwards County at a depth of 19.1 kilometers (11.9 miles). The event has been reviewed by the USGS and assigned a preliminary magnitude of 3.5.
The shaking was felt across a broad portion of the lower Midwest. Reports submitted to the USGS indicate residents noticed the quake in communities surrounding the epicenter, while the shaking extended into the Evansville, Indiana, area and portions of western Kentucky. The USGS intensity map shows light shaking reaching well outside southeastern Illinois, highlighting the wide area over which the earthquake was experienced.
Communities closest to the epicenter included West Salem, Albion, Mount Carmel and surrounding areas, while residents farther away described feeling brief rattling or a sudden jolt during the early morning hours.
No immediate reports of significant damage or injuries had been released early Monday. Earthquakes of this magnitude can produce noticeable shaking indoors, rattle windows and dishes, and briefly awaken sleeping residents but typically cause little structural damage.
Southern Illinois lies near the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone, adjacent to the New Madrid Seismic Zone, one of the most active earthquake regions east of the Rocky Mountains. While earthquakes of this size are relatively uncommon, they are not unusual for the region.
Emergency officials encourage anyone who experienced the shaking to submit a “Did You Feel It?” report through the USGS website to help improve earthquake intensity maps and scientific analysis. Authorities will continue monitoring the area for any aftershocks, although none had been confirmed immediately following the event.
