Asheville, NC – Residents in the North Carolina mountains may have felt the ground move this week after two small earthquakes struck different parts of the region on Wednesday, September 10.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the first quake registered at magnitude 2.1 around 10:40 a.m. Wednesday. It was centered about 4 kilometers west-southwest of Rosman in Transylvania County. Later that evening, at 10:21 p.m., a second tremor measuring magnitude 1.8 was recorded about 8 kilometers west of Bakersville in Mitchell County.
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg shared the reports on Thursday, noting that while the quakes were minor, they still could have been felt locally. Earthquakes in this magnitude range are typically considered weak but are not uncommon in the Appalachian region.
No damage or injuries were reported following either event. The USGS encourages residents who may have felt shaking to report their experiences through its “Did You Feel It?” system, which helps scientists track the effects of seismic activity.
North Carolina averages a few minor earthquakes each year, mostly concentrated in the western part of the state. While rarely damaging, the tremors serve as a reminder that seismic activity can occur even in areas not widely associated with earthquakes.
