Earthquake rattles those from Virginia to Georgia

Sparta, North Carolina Earthquake (Copyright 2020 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.)

Shortly after 8 a.m. Sunday, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook the ground a few miles southeast of Sparta, North Carolina, right along the North Carolina-Virginia border, according to the preliminary survey by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The earthquake’s epicenter was in Allegheny County, North Carolina. The earthquake was also felt by those in southwest Virginia, Tennessee and as far south as Atlanta, Georgia.

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USGS has issued a green alert, meaning there’s a low likelihood of casualties and damage. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

It was the largest earthquake to hit North Carolina since 1916, when a magnitude 5.5 quake occurred near Skyland, the National Weather Service said.

Earlier Sunday morning, the USGS reported a 2.6 magnitude earthquake close by in Sparta, North Carolina.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.