Important earthquake rocks US city sitting on ancien fault

A magnitude 3.1 earthquake was detected near the capital of Ohio on Thursday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The tremor occurred at 3:14 p.m. local time, approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of Columbus.

The region sits atop an ancient fault line—a structural weakness in the Earth’s crust that can be reactivated under tectonic stress. This marks the second quake of the same magnitude in the area this week, following a similar tremor recorded on Tuesday.

According to Michigan Tech University, earthquakes below a magnitude of 2.5 are generally not felt by people. However, at magnitude 3.1, it’s possible that some residents in the area may have noticed the shaking.

Experts say that human activity—particularly oil and gas extraction—can sometimes trigger seismic events. As technological advancements have allowed energy companies to access vast reserves of natural gas, concerns have grown over potential groundwater contamination and the increased risk of manmade earthquakes.

(QG - Source: The Daily Mail — Picture : © Unsplash)