“Mild 4.0-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Greenback, Tennessee”
At 9:04 a.m. this morning, a 4.0-magnitude earthquake rattled Greenback, Tennessee, sending tremors across the Southeast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake, centered approximately 30 miles southwest of Knoxville, occurred at a depth of 25 miles, classifying it as a shallow event.
Residents from Tennessee to Georgia and the Carolinas felt the effects, with hundreds reporting their experiences to the USGS. Social media was buzzing, especially in Atlanta, where one user exclaimed, “First-ever earthquake you could actually feel in Atlanta!” Another posted, “I swear I felt a slight tremor that shook my house,” after the brief, 10-second shaking.
Despite the widespread reports of tremors, local authorities in Knoxville have confirmed no damage or injuries. Emergency responders are on standby, as officials predict a 23% chance of aftershocks measuring magnitude 3.0 or higher over the next week.
Although Tennessee isn’t typically known for major earthquakes, it sits within the East Tennessee Seismic Zone, one of the Southeast’s most active regions. In the past month alone, the state has recorded 21 quakes, with only three exceeding a magnitude of 3.0 this year.
Saturday’s quake marks the seventh tremor of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Tennessee since 1900. The most recent sizable earthquake occurred in 2018 near Decatur (4.4 magnitude), and the largest was a 4.7 quake near Alcoa in 1973.
Stay alert—aftershocks could still be on the way!
