Meigs County Ohio Earthquake of May 06, 2002

Origin Time: 2002 05 06 22:26:52.22 UTC
Location: 38.93º N   -81.83º W
Magnitude: 2.8 mbLg
Depth: 5.0 km (fixed)

On Monday, May 6, 2002, a small earthquake occurred at 6:26 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time near the Ohio River in Meigs County, in the general vicinity of the communities of Racine and Antiquity. No felt reports were immediately received by the Ohio Seismic Network. The event was originally noted and located by the Virginia Tech Seismological Observatory in Blacksburg, VA. The event was relocated slightly by the Ohio Seismic Network using VTSO, USGS, and OSN stations.

Inquiries to the Ohio Department of Transportation, District 10, about road construction activities in the area confirmed that no blasting was done on May 6. ODOT officials indicated, however, that they had three citizen complaints about blasting on May 6 from individuals living in the Racine-Antiquity area who felt a vibration and heard a booming sound. No damages were reported. No previous seismic activity has been noted in the Racine area of Meigs County. In 1926, a small-magnitude (3.6) but intense (MMI=VII) earthquake caused minor damage in the Pomeroy area of Meigs County.