An earthquake was confirmed in the Columbia area on Sunday, continuing a busy stretch of seismic activity in South Carolina.
A 2.1 magnitude earthquake was recorded near Lugoff, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The low-magnitude earthquake hit at 2:27 p.m., the South Carolina Emergency Management Division said.
The earthquake, or aftershock, that was recorded at a depth of 1.9 kilometers, or about 1.1 miles, was the 17th in the Palmetto State since the start of the new year, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. All but one of the quakes have been in the Midlands.
Anyone who felt the earthquake can report it to the USGS.
Hours later, the USGS confirmed another earthquake hit South Carolina.
At 4:05 a.m. Monday, a 0.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded near Dorchester County, according to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.
The quake that the USGS said was recorded at a depth of 2.9 kilometers, is the second in the Lowcountry in 2022. On Jan. 9, a 1.4 magnitude earthquake was confirmed near Ladson, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
This continues a recent trend of seismic activity. Prior to Sunday, the most recent incident was earlier in the month when a 2.09 magnitude quake was confirmed on March 11.
In all, 21 earthquakes have hit the Columbia area since a 3.3 magnitude quake was recorded on Dec. 27, 2021, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
No major damage or injuries have been reported from any of the recent quakes.
Earthquakes that register 2.5 magnitude or less often go unnoticed and are usually only recorded by a seismograph, according to Michigan Technological University. Any quake less than 5.5 magnitude is not likely to cause significant damage, the school said.
It is typical for South Carolina to have between six and 10 earthquakes a year, the S.C. Geological Survey previously reported. There have been 44 earthquakes in South Carolina since Jan. 18, 2021, according to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
There were at least 11 earthquakes recorded by the USGS in South Carolina in 2020.
Following Sunday's activity, 37 earthquakes have been recorded since Sept. 27, 2021, in the Palmetto State, according to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
Of the earthquakes confirmed in South Carolina since the start of 2021, 33 occurred in the Midlands, S.C. Department of Natural Resources data shows.
An explanation for the recent outburst has eluded scientists.
Digging and blasting at mines, water seeping through the ground from lakes, or other changes in weight or pressure underground could all contribute to seismic activity, The State previously reported, but no one has settled on the single cause for the Midlands' shaking.
One of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in South Carolina happened in Charleston on Aug. 31, 1886. The estimated 7.3 magnitude quake killed 60 people and was felt over 2.5 million square miles, from Cuba to New York, and Bermuda to the Mississippi River, according to the Emergency Management Division.
