Residents across parts of the central United States experienced two earthquakes within a span of just 48 hours, as seismic activity along the New Madrid Seismic Zone once again drew attention to one of the country’s most closely watched fault systems.
The earthquakes, which occurred in southern Illinois and southeastern Missouri, were relatively minor and caused no widespread damage. However, the back-to-back tremors prompted questions from communities throughout the region about whether a larger earthquake could follow.
Seismologists say that while the recent earthquakes are part of the area’s normal seismic activity, they are not considered evidence that a major earthquake is imminent.
Two Earthquakes Recorded in Less Than Two Days
The first earthquake occurred on Monday, when a magnitude 3.5 tremor struck southern Illinois near the Paducah, Kentucky, corridor…