Florida earthquake is largest ever recorded off the state’s east coast as rare 4.0 magnitude tremor strikes just 101 miles off the coast of Cape Canaveral
- Florida was hit by an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter scale on Wednesday evening
- The earthquake was extremely rare because the area has no major fault lines
- Florida has not experienced an earthquake this large since 1879, when a magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurred
A rare earthquake struck the Florida coast on Wednesday, sending rumblings across the city of Palm Bay.
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake came as a surprise to Florida residents, who rarely experience the natural phenomenon because there are no major fault lines in the area.
The strongest earthquake ever to hit Florida occurred on January 12, 1879, with a magnitude of 4.4. However, Wednesday’s earthquake is the largest ever recorded off the state’s east coast, with a magnitude 3.9 quake coming in second in 2021.
The unusual earthquake, which occurred Wednesday evening at 10:48 p.m., rumbled about 100 miles off the coast of Cape Canaveral in Florida’s Brevard County.
There was likely no physical cause for this earthquake, seismologist and professor of geology at the University of South Florida Steve McNutt told DailyMail.com.
McNutt said the earthquake was likely the result of residual stresses on the fault line, but confirmed it was a “good magnitude for the area.”
The expert suggested that Florida residents take the earthquake as a warning. Normally, Florida residents are concerned about hurricanes, but they should be wary that other hazards, such as earthquakes, can and will occur.
A magnitude 4.0 earthquake is described as feeling like a large truck passing by, or if the shaking is caused by a nearby explosion.
The small earthquakes can be felt, but usually do not cause damage.
Wednesday’s earthquake had a depth of just over six miles, making it a very shallow earthquake, according to the USGS.
More than 40 people on the Space Coast reported feeling “weak” or “mild” shaking during the earthquake – but no one was harmed.
The affected areas were Titusville and Vero Beach — including Melbourne, Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach, according to the USGS’ Community Internet Intensity Map.
‘Some remarkable things. That happens quite rarely here, because there are no major fault lines in the area.’ VOS 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Jessica Dobson said.
The state has seen only 66 earthquakes above magnitude 3, and only one earthquake above four, which occurred in 1879.
In 2006, a 5.9% magnitude earthquake struck the Gulf of Mexico, sending rumblings all the way to Florida and shaking the southwest region.
Florida is known as one of the most geologically stable areas in the US
“We’ve had earthquakes in Florida — and we could have them today — but they’re not as likely as other places,” said Doug Smith, professor of geology and longtime director of the University of Florida’s seismic network in 2000.