Greenwood, SC – Three earthquakes rattled Greenwood County early Saturday morning, with the strongest reaching magnitude 3.0 and drawing reports of shaking from nearly 200 residents.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the first and strongest quake struck at 12:23 a.m. about 3 kilometers north of Coronaca at a shallow depth of 1.3 kilometers. Just 18 minutes later, a magnitude 2.5 tremor followed to the northwest, and by 1:21 a.m., a third, smaller 1.5 quake was recorded east of Coronaca.
The National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg office confirmed the unusual cluster, noting all three quakes were centered near Waterloo in Greenwood County, close to the Sumter National Forest. While no injuries or structural damage were reported, many residents described feeling light shaking, with the largest event rated “moderate” on the USGS community intensity scale.
South Carolina does not frequently see earthquakes, but the region has a long seismic history, including the destructive 1886 Charleston earthquake, estimated at magnitude 7.0. Experts say even small clusters like Saturday’s serve as reminders of the state’s vulnerability to seismic activity.
Officials are encouraging residents who experienced shaking to submit reports to the USGS “Did You Feel It?” portal, which helps scientists better track the extent of earthquakes across the Southeast.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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