Many residents in Southern Illinois reported feeling shaking early Thursday morning, but the US Geological Survey (USGS) clarified that it was not an earthquake.
Seismologists confirmed that there was indeed shaking at 12:03 AM Thursday, measuring 2.3 on the Richter Scale. However, they attributed this tremor to a mine collapse near Burna, Kentucky. Although this incident was relatively minor, it took place in one of North America’s most seismically active areas, the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which spans several states, including Kentucky, and has a history of significant earthquakes dating back to the devastating events of 1811-1812.
Fortunately, no injuries or major damage were reported from the mine collapse on Thursday.
This incident is not the first time a mine collapse has been linked to seismic activity this year. A seismic event on March 15, initially reported as a 3.5-magnitude earthquake in Platte County, Missouri, was later confirmed by the USGS to be caused by a mine collapse at the Stamper Mine near Kansas City. The USGS revised its initial assessment of the Missouri event, noting that it occurred at ground level rather than six miles deep as previously indicated.
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