5.1 magnitude earthquake rattles Virginia-North Carolina border

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - A 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook much of central and southwest Virginia Sunday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

USGS reports the earthquake was centered near Sparta, by the VA line pic.twitter.com/aZB88Sg43k
— Ashley Anne (@AshleyAReports) August 9, 2020

The earthquake struck at 8:07 a.m. about a mile south-southeast of Sparta, N.C., according to the USGS.

WDBJ7 viewers across the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas reported feeling the quake.

Sparta is about 24 miles south of Galax, 84 miles south of Roanoke and 90 miles north of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Did you feel some shaking this morning around 8:08? A 5.1 magnitude earthquake was reported by the USGS near Sparta,NC. This is the second earthquake reported near that location this morning.
Posted by WDBJ7 Weather on Sunday, August 9, 2020

The quake comes after a 2.6 magnitude earthquake hit that same area around 1:57 a.m.

According to the Associated Press, It was the largest earthquake to hit the state since 1916, when a magnitude 5.5 quake occurred near Skyland.

Here's what the 5.1 quake looked like near the epicenter in Sparta, NC from a shop downtown.
Posted by Brent Watts WDBJ7 on Sunday, August 9, 2020

Breaking: a shallow magnitude 5.1 #earthquake was just felt in the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee.

It was preceded by a minor foreshock yesterday.

Earthquakes travel farther in the eastern U.S. because of the structure of the crust and the fewer faults that break it up. pic.twitter.com/bXPg2voIw7
— Matthew Cappucci (@MatthewCappucci) August 9, 2020