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January 13, 2006
EARTHQUAKE FELT IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO
Ohio Seismic Network records 2.3 magnitude
(audio actualities)
COLUMBUS, OH -An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 2.3 was recorded today by Ohio’s Seismic Network at 10:32 a.m. in the Mentor-on-the-Lake area, east of Cleveland, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Initial data indicates the earthquake was centered beneath Lake Erie, about nine miles offshore. Another small earthquake was recorded in the same area a little more than one week ago. A magnitude 2.5 occurred on January 5 at 10:02 p.m. and was felt by lakeshore residents.
“These small earthquakes are important because they occur more frequently and help to identify the location of faults that may periodically produce larger, potentially damaging earthquakes,” said Michael Hansen, coordinator of the Ohio Seismic Network (OhioSeis).
OhioSeis consists of 25 cooperative seismograph stations throughout Ohio located at colleges, universities and other institutions. The network is coordinated by the ODNR Division of Geological Survey. The networks’ operations are managed from the Ohio Earthquake Information Center at the division’s facility at Alum Creek State Park in Delaware County. Each seismic station in the network continuously records ground motion for detection and location of local and regional earthquakes. All stations are connected to the Internet for real-time data access by researchers.
Ohio has felt more than 185 earthquakes since 1776, and 15 of them have caused noticeable damage. Ohio’s most seismically active regions are northeast Ohio along Lake Erie in Lake and Ashtabula counties, as well as western Ohio, including Shelby and Auglaize counties. Ohio’s largest earthquake on record occurred March 9, 1937 in Shelby County. The 5.4 magnitude event caused considerable damage to the Village of Anna.
Anyone who feels an earthquake is encouraged to report it on the OhioSeis Web site at ohiodnr.com/ohioseis or call 740-548-5979.
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