Small earthquake shakes an area near the capital of South Carolina

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Columbia, SC

A moderate earthquake shook central South Carolina on Monday, according to the US Geological Survey, shaking windowpanes and disrupting wildlife, but causing no obvious injuries or serious damage. It was one of about two dozen minor earthquakes to hit the state this year.

At about 2:30 p.m., a 3.3-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Kershaw County near Elgin, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Columbia, the capital of South Carolina. Officials said the attack took place at a depth of 3.2 km.

While the quake made a sound similar to the sound of heavy construction vehicles, it shook homes, causing windows in their frames to rattle and provoking dogs to bark.

People reported that they felt tremors throughout the District of Columbia and in areas as far away as Lexington, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of the epicenter, according to the US Geological Survey. To the northeast, the earthquake was apparently felt at least as far away as Camden, about 18 miles (29 kilometers), with some scattered reports ranging even farther.

Twenty earthquakes have been reported in South Carolina this year, according to federal officials.

Earlier this year, the area near Jenkinsville, about 38 miles (61 kilometers) west of Monday’s earthquakes, recorded six small earthquakes in more than a week, with three recorded in just one day.

State officials are still studying that wave of seismic activity.

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Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP.

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