A magnitude 5.1 earthquake shook the North Carolina border with Virginia on Sunday, shaking houses and rattling dishes as far away as Atlanta.
No serious injuries or injuries were reported immediately.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was the strongest to shake the region since a magnitude 5.2 earthquake in 1916. Sunday, 8:07 a.m., struck central southeastern Sparta. Carolina, about 100 miles north of Charlotte.
“It felt like a big locomotive passing by and getting a big wave under the bed,” Sparta mayor Wes Brinegar told CNN. “A great wave that is coming to lift you up. … I have lived here all my life and have never felt such a thing.”
Brinegar said some foundations were apparently cracked and books were knocked off planks. The quake shook residents from their beds and drew an audience on social media.
“OMG !!! We experienced an earthquake this morning in Charlotte, NC !!! Our whole house shook !!!” tweeted DJHiPrayzeRadio. “We are okay. There is no damage we can detect !!!”
Bill Griesmyer, an engineer in Charlotte, said the quake was strong enough to drive people out of their homes.
“Not a big one, but shook the house and brought the neighbors out into her yard to see what happened,” he said.
In Atlanta, Aisha Howard tweeted that “I know I’ve been awake for 430 hours, but I’m pretty sure my apartment just shook in ATL in Midtown. I should probably get some rest.”
