Puxico, Mo. – A rare earthquake shook parts of southeast Missouri early Saturday morning, giving residents a brief jolt across the Ozarks.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey and the New Madrid Seismic Network, a 2.6 magnitude quake struck at 2:37 a.m. about 4 kilometers south-southwest of Puxico. The tremor originated at a shallow depth of 4.5 kilometers, making it more easily felt despite its modest strength.
Residents in Butler and Stoddard counties, including Poplar Bluff, Asherville, and areas near Lake Wappapello, reported light shaking but no damage. A handful of “Did You Feel It?” responses were submitted to USGS, confirming minor vibrations across homes.
Local emergency officials emphasized that no injuries or structural issues have been reported. Still, residents are reminded that southeast Missouri sits on the edge of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, one of the most active earthquake regions east of the Rockies.
Experts say small tremors like Saturday’s are not uncommon and serve as reminders for households to keep emergency supplies and review preparedness plans.
Monitoring will continue through the weekend, though no aftershocks have been recorded as of Saturday morning.
