Newbern, Tennessee – A small earthquake rattled part of West Tennessee late Tuesday evening, sending a brief tremor through the Mid-South near the Mississippi River. The quake was centered northwest of Newbern, not far from the Arkansas and Missouri borders, in a region known for occasional seismic activity tied to the New Madrid Seismic Zone.
According to the New Madrid Seismic Network and the University of Memphis Center for Earthquake Research and Information, the earthquake struck Tuesday night with a preliminary magnitude of 2.5. The quake was shallow, occurring at a depth of about 3.9 kilometers, which can increase the chance of light shaking being noticed near the epicenter.
The epicenter was located roughly 13 kilometers west-northwest of Newbern, placing it within reach of parts of northwest Tennessee and nearby sections of northeast Arkansas, southeast Missouri, and western Kentucky. No damage or injuries were reported, and early community reports suggest the shaking was brief and mild, if felt at all.
Small earthquakes are not unusual in this region, which remains one of the most seismically active areas east of the Rockies. Experts note that quakes of this size typically cause little to no damage but serve as reminders of the underlying fault system.
Officials continue to monitor the area, and residents who felt shaking are encouraged to submit reports to help scientists better understand the event. No additional seismic activity has been reported so far.
