It was the second earthquake in the area on Sunday. A smaller 2.6 magnitude struck about 2 miles south of Sparta at 1:57 a.m. Sunday, the USGS reported. Twitter users from across North and South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee reported feeling the tremor. Houses shook for four or five seconds.
The USGS reported that the quake was felt as far south as Augusta, Georgia, and as far north as Staunton, Virginia. No damage or injuries have been reported yet. The 5.1 magnitude quakes was the second strongest to strike in North Carolina since 1900, according to the USGS database. In February 1916, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck south of Asheville in Skyland, North Carolina. Another 5.2 magnitude quake struck in Mitchell County, about 30 miles northeast of Asheville, in July 1926. -Full Report
