TAMPA, Fla. (AP) The largest earthquake to strike the eastern Gulf of Mexico in the last 30 years sent shock waves from Louisiana to southwest Florida Sunday.
The magnitude 6.0 earthquake, centered about 260 miles southwest of Tampa, was too small to trigger a tsunami or dangerous waves, the United States Geological Survey said.
Scientists said it was the largest and most widely felt of more than a dozen earthquakes recorded in the region in three decades.
“This is a fairly unique event,” said Don Blakeman, an analyst with the National Earthquake Information Center who said the quake was unusually strong.
The most prevalent vibration, which lasted for about 20 seconds, was felt on the gulf coast of Florida and in southern Georgia, Blakeman said. Residents in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana also called in reports. …show more content…
The epicenter is an unusual location for earthquake activity, but scientists recorded a magnitude 5.2 temblor in the same location on Feb. 10.
“This kind of occurrence is unusual in that spot, especially for an earthquake of this size,” Blakeman said of Sunday’s quake.
Only one of Florida’s rare earthquakes caused significant damage. In January 1879, St. Augustine residents reported heavy shaking that knocked plaster off the
The magnitude 6.0 earthquake, centered about 260 miles southwest of Tampa, was too small to trigger a tsunami or dangerous waves, the United States Geological Survey said.
Scientists said it was the largest and most widely felt of more than a dozen earthquakes recorded in the region in three decades.
“This is a fairly unique event,” said Don Blakeman, an analyst with the National Earthquake Information Center who said the quake was unusually strong.
The most prevalent vibration, which lasted for about 20 seconds, was felt on the gulf coast of Florida and in southern Georgia, Blakeman said. Residents in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana also called in reports. …show more content…
The epicenter is an unusual location for earthquake activity, but scientists recorded a magnitude 5.2 temblor in the same location on Feb. 10.
“This kind of occurrence is unusual in that spot, especially for an earthquake of this size,” Blakeman said of Sunday’s quake.
Only one of Florida’s rare earthquakes caused significant damage. In January 1879, St. Augustine residents reported heavy shaking that knocked plaster off the