North Carolina Earthquake Fault Lines
At 7 3 magnitude the charleston earthquake of 1886 was the largest quake to ever hit the eastern united states.
North carolina earthquake fault lines. South carolina earthquakes occur with the greatest frequency along the central coastline of the state in the charleston area. Most of the earthquakes here are small random scattered movements of the earth s crust. This earthquake killed at least 60 people and destroyed much of the city.
The locations of earthquake epicenters in north carolina do not consistently line up with known faults as they do in california indicating that the inactive faults exposed on the surface are not responsible for the earthquakes in this region. It was the most damaging earthquake in the southeast and one of the largest earthquakes in the eastern united states in historical times. 2020 05 04 01 00 48 utc 2 3 magnitude 8 km depth valley hill north carolina united states 2 3 magnitude earthquake 2020 05 04 01 00 48 utc at 01 00 may 04 2020 utc.
South carolina averages 10 15 earthquakes a year below magnitude 3. There are major and minor fault lines all over the united states. Compare the area affected by the charleston earthquake to the area covered by the 1916 north carolina earthquake.
With further detailed geologic mapping more fault lines will likely be identified. This earthquake was felt up and down the east coast and throughout the midwest.