Rumbling continued throughout the night after powerful earthquake hit Columbia area

The shaking did not stop in the Columbia area after a powerful earthquake hit early Monday morning.

The seismic activity continued throughout the day, as five total earthquakes were confirmed by the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.

The tremors could very well continue Tuesday and for some time, as more aftershocks are possible in the Midlands after a 3.3 magnitude earthquake was recorded near Elgin.

But that has become the norm in South Carolina, where 26 earthquakes have been recorded in the Palmetto State since the start of 2022, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. All but four of the quakes have been in the Midlands.

“We can expect aftershocks in the days and weeks following the larger earthquake early Monday morning,” the S.C. Emergency Management Division said. “Aftershock intensity varies, but they tend to be of lesser magnitude than the initial earthquake and decrease in frequency over time.”

Monday’s first earthquake hit at 1:32 a.m., and was recorded at a depth of 3.1 kilometers, or about 2 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

An earthquake scientist at the University of South Carolina said Monday’s quake is not necessarily unusual.

“The (3.3)-magnitude earthquake that shook the Midlands Monday morning is the strongest in the region in 2022, but falls well within historical norms for the area,’’ USC geology professor Scott White said.

Two smaller earthquakes were reported in the same area within four hours of the 3.3 quake, according to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division. The other earthquakes, or aftershocks, followed at 4:39 a.m. (1.6 magnitude), and 5:10 a.m. (1.78 magnitude).

More than 13 hours passed before a fourth earthquake was confirmed. A 2.1 magnitude quake was reported in the Elgin area at 6:05 p.m., according to the USGS.

The fifth and final earthquake of the day also hit the Elgin area. The 2.9 magnitude earthquake that happened at 11:55 p.m. was the second strongest seismic activity reported on Monday, according to the USGS. But it also occurred at the deepest point, happening about 3.5 miles below the surface.

In all, 29 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 54 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 Monday’s activity, 47 earthquakes have been recorded since Sept. 27, 2021, in the Palmetto State, according to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

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.

Reported earthquakes in SC in 2021-22

This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 7:27 AM.

Noah Feit

The State

803-771-8435

Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription