Two Minor Earthquakes Shake Marion North Carolina Hours Apart

Two small earthquakes struck near Marion in Western North Carolina early on October 24, with magnitudes of 2.2 and 2.1 respectively, occurring about five hours apart. Both quakes had epicenters close to Bungalow Drive along the Catawba River, north of downtown Marion in McDowell County, and produced only weak shaking with no reported damage. Witnesses reported feeling vibrations similar to a passing truck, with some feeling the tremors up to 48 miles away. The region, though considered relatively stable and littered with ancient inactive faults, experiences minor quakes due to occasional slipping of these ancient faults under ongoing compression. Marion has not experienced similar earthquakes in the past 25 years, making this event notable despite the small magnitudes. Authorities are continuing to monitor the area, and residents are encouraged to report any tremors to the USGS.