South Carolina earthquake: Columbia struck by 3.0 magnitude tremor

A 3.0 magnitude earthquake struck Thursday about 5.1 miles west-southwest of Irmo, South Carolina, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The epicenter of the earthquake was near Columbia, the state capital, and there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The quake was at a depth of 0.1 miles and struck around 12:17 p.m. ET, according to the USGS’s latest earthquake website. As of Thursday around 1:30 PM ET, there were more than 250 reports of people feeling the quake.

“Although it is not often viewed as ‘seismic state,’ South Carolina is a seismically active region, especially for smaller magnitude 2 to 3 earthquakes,” a USGS spokesperson told Newsweek. “Today’s magnitude 3.0 quake is just one of dozens that have occurred over the past 25 years. The largest was a 4.1 earthquake near Parksville, South Carolina, in 2014. Normally, 3.0 earthquakes will not cause damage, but people nearby may feel it. Our self-reporting tool, ‘Did you feel it?’, shows that 253 people reported tremors. “Aftershocks are unlikely, but it would not be surprising if another similar aftershock were to occur. A major earthquake would occur in South Carolina in the next year or two.”

Damage does not usually occur until earthquakes reach magnitude 4.5. When an earthquake has a magnitude of 7.0 or higher, it is considered a major earthquake.

Where was the epicenter of the South Carolina earthquake?

USGS data showed the quake occurred 3 miles west-southwest of Irmo, near the center of the state. Irmo is located 12 miles northwest of Columbia.

People in Colombia reported feeling the earthquake. Reports also came from Red Bank to the south.

What causes an earthquake?

Earthquakes occur when pressure builds up along faults in the Earth’s crust as tectonic plates collide, collide with each other, or move away from each other, eventually causing rocks to fracture and release energy in the form of seismic waves. This sudden release causes a vibration felt at the surface, with the specific point of rupture known as the focus and the point directly above it called the epicenter. While most earthquakes are caused by plate movement, they can also be caused by volcanic activity, moving magma, or, in rare cases, human activities such as grouting deep wells or filling large reservoirs.

Thomas Pratt, a research geophysicist at the USGS, told Newsweek that while the South Carolina quake itself isn’t unusual, what’s strange is that it’s the fourth to hit the immediate area in the past week. He referred to this phenomenon as an earthquake swarm. Sometimes, such a swarm of small quakes can signal that a larger, more damaging quake is on the horizon, but Pratt said there is no way to predict such an event, and such an occurrence would be “very rare.”

In August of last year, a cluster of about a dozen earthquakes struck Greenwood County, South Carolina, over the course of about a week, the largest measuring 3.0.

When an earthquake strikes, the safest response is to fall, take cover, and cling: Drop to the ground before the shaking knocks you over, take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture such as a table or desk, and hold on until the shaking stops to maintain shelter above you. If there is no shelter, protect your head and neck with your arms and sit next to an interior wall away from windows, heavy furniture, or anything that could fall. Stay inside until the shaking ends, and if you are outside, move to an open area away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines.

Updated 02/26/26, 1:42 PM ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Updated 02/26/26, 2:20pm ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Updated 02/26/26, 2:55 PM ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

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