A magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck central Virginia Tuesday afternoon, the United States Geological Survey confirmed. Details on the event are emerging now. The tremor was felt across a wide area, including parts of the Richmond metropolitan region and Northern Virginia.
The geological event occurred at 1:08 p.m. EDT in Buckingham County, located about 12 miles from Farmville. Reports indicate the epicenter was approximately 5 miles south of Dillwyn, Virginia, situating it about 66 miles west of Richmond.People across central Virginia reported feeling the tremor. Multiple reports indicated the shake extended into the Richmond area and northern parts of the state.
Reports of the shaking came from locations including Charlottesville, Leesburg, Culpeper, Arlington, Stafford, and Loudoun County. A shake map released by the USGS illustrated the extent of the shaking felt regionally. Local news outlets also covered the event.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or significant property damage following the shaking.
The earthquake occurred near the Central Virginia Seismic Zone, a fault line responsible for previous seismic activity in the region, including a magnitude 5.8 quake in 2011 that produced aftershocks for years.
Geological experts explain that earthquakes in the eastern United States tend to be felt over a larger area compared to those of similar magnitude west of the Rocky Mountains. This is attributed to the older and colder crust in the East.
Damage from earthquakes does not typically occur until the magnitude reaches somewhere above 4 or 5, according to the USGS. The potential for damage depends on factors like distance from the epicenter, local soil conditions, and building construction.
This week's shaking follows a smaller, magnitude 1.6 earthquake reported near Short Pump, a suburb of Richmond, on May 1.