2020 Sparta earthquake
| UTC time | 2020-08-09 12:07:37 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 618711487 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | August 9, 2020 |
| Local time | 8:07:47 EDT (UTC-4) |
| Magnitude | Mw5.1 |
| Depth | 4.7 mi (7.6 km) |
| Epicenter | 35°45′58″N 117°36′18″W / 35.766°N 117.605°W |
| Fault | Little River Fault |
| Type | Oblique-slip |
| Areas affected | North Carolina, Virginia |
| Max. intensity | MMI VII (Very strong) |
| Foreshocks | Yes |
| Aftershocks | Yes |
| Casualties | 1 injured |
The 2020 Sparta earthquake struck North Carolina on August 9 at 08:07 EDT. The epicenter of this moment magnitude (Mw ) 5.1 earthquake was near the small town of Sparta, Alleghany County. It was the strongest earthquake recorded in North Carolina in 104 years, the second-strongest in the state's history, and the largest to strike the East Coast since the 2011 Virginia earthquake. It caused damage to homes and businesses in Sparta and injured at least one person. The shaking was also felt in other states along the East Coast and Midwest. A state of emergency was declared in Sparta, and North Carolina granted US$24 million ($29.2 million in 2024) in relief fund for repair works.
The Blue Ridge Mountains are part of the eastern Appalachians which formed about 480 to 300 million years ago during subduction and subsequent continental collision with the African plate. The earthquake occurred in a region where faults have been documented in the area. The United States Geological Survey said that the earthquake was caused by movement on a fault within the North American Plate.