An earthquake struck South Carolina this morning, just East of Columbia.
The magnitude 2.3 quake had an epicenter of 34.161°N 80.728°W, which was basically directly under I-20 between Elgin and Lugoff.
The new quake brings the total to 91 earthquakes and aftershocks around the small South Carolina town since 2020.
The earthquakes around Elgin first started in late 2021, with the largest being a magnitude 3.6, which knocked out the power for hundreds in the area around Lugoff.
Earthquakes have been increasing in frequency around the Carolinas, with the largest recent quake breaking a 100 year record. 2 years ago, a 5.1 magnitude quake hit Sparta, NC, and since then, dozens of aftershocks have continued to rattle both states.
According to USGS.gov, “Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two.”
Have you felt any of them?
What do you think is causing the uptick in Carolina quakes?