BURGIN, KY. - On Thursday, at 3:05 a.m., shockwaves of a 2.6 magnitude earthquake rattled central Kentucky and surrounding areas. According to reports from the U.S. Geological Survey, the tremor's epicenter was located just east of Burgin.Â
Although the quake was relatively small, its effects were felt in Danville, Nicholasville, Lexington, and Frankfort -- cities roughly 30 miles away from the epicenter.
The USGS said the earthquake was intense. But there have been no reports of anyone getting hurt or any damage. Unfortunately, this latest seismic event was just one more thing during a crazy morning of weather across Kentucky. There were heavy rains, hail, and even tornado warnings throughout the Louisville region. This made people in towns near Burgin feel even more uneasy.
Many people used social media after the earthquake. They shared what happened to them, like waking up or feeling their homes shake. People were scared and confused until they heard about it on the news later.
A resident from Danville who wished to remain anonymous told WKYT,
I heard this loud rumbling noise outside my window and thought something had exploded so I got out of bed to check it out but when I looked outside everything seemed normal."
As people found out about the earthquakes in central Kentucky, some experts released statements. They said that the tremors might be connected to other, bigger earthquakes in America. These bigger earthquakes are happening along the New Madrid Seismic Zone. This area is located near Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Tennessee.
The New Madrid Seismic Zone has experienced bigger earthquakes in the past because it is located close to two tectonic plates. These plates always move against each other, creating tension under the ground for hundreds of miles around the area. Over time, this tension can cause seismic activity or an earthquake.
During an interview with CBS News, one seismologist stated,
We can't expect any large earthquakes related to this event [in Kentucky]; however, small tremors such as these are not uncommon throughout areas near the New Madrid Seismic Zone."
All things considered, seismologists urged calm among residents living near Burgin. At the same time, they continued monitoring seismic activity throughout Kentucky over the coming weeks to get an accurate gauge on any potential aftershocks or recurring events similar to last week's quake near Burgin and surrounding areas.
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