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4.7-magnitude quake hits central Arkansas
By ArkansasOnline
A seismic graph from a station in Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View shows an earthquake late Sunday...
LITTLE ROCK — A preliminary 4.7-magnitude earthquake in central Arkansas was felt throughout the state, but there were no immediate reports of any damage.
The latest earthquake was centered near Greenbrier, where much of the seismic activity has occurred in the past six months. The shaking was felt far and wide this time, though, as thousands of people reported shaking on the U.S. Geological Survey website
If it is confirmed as a 4.7, the temblor would be the strongest of hundreds of earthquakes in Faulkner County since September. Reports are often downgraded as the survey analyzes more data.
There were no reports of serious damage in Greenbrier, which sits 4 miles northeast of the quake's epicenter. Dispatchers there said the shaking lasted about two seconds and caused a small crack in one police officer's wall and knocked another officer's television over.
There were numerous calls to 911 from people who felt the quake but didn't have any damage, officials said.
The shaking occurred just after 11 p.m. and was followed by two more earthquakes: a 3.8-magnitude rattler about 15 minutes later and a 3.6 quake around 2:45 a.m.
More than 4,100 people reported feeling the 4.7 quake on the survey's website, including residents throughout Arkansas and in Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Mississippi.
Geologists are working to determine if the activity - dubbed the Guy Swarm - is caused by pressurized liquid injected into the ground by natural gas drillers or if it is a natural occurrence.
The U.S. Geological Survey also recorded other earthquakes last week that weren't felt by residents.
Scientists recorded at least 10 quakes Friday, beginning with one registering 2.4 in magnitude at 1:10 a.m.
A larger quake with a magnitude of 3.1 rumbled 2 miles northeast of Greenbrier at 2:49 a.m., then one registering 3.5 was reported at 3:49 a.m.
Another temblor was recorded at 10:17 a.m. and registered 2.3.
This article was originally published February 27, 2011 at 11:35 p.m.
Updated today at 6:19 a.m.
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