3.8 magnitude earthquake rattles West Tennessee town

The shock was felt across three states.
Published: May. 16, 2024 at 12:14 PM CDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - An earthquake struck a small town in West Tennessee early Thursday morning, with a powerful shock that could be felt across three states.

The tremor was reported just after 3:00 a.m. in the town of Ridgley, Tennessee, located just a few miles outside of Dyersburg. No damage or injuries were reported.

A 3.8 magnitude earthquake was reported a few miles outside of Dyersburg, TN early Thursday...
A 3.8 magnitude earthquake was reported a few miles outside of Dyersburg, TN early Thursday morning.(USGS)

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, this was a 3.8 magnitude earthquake, which is considered “minor.” There are about 100,000 earthquakes a year about this size. They are often only felt with some noticeable shaking and don’t usually cause too much damage.

Although this was a minor earthquake, the shaking could be felt for miles. People reported feeling the shock in southern Tennessee, eastern Missouri, and southern Illinois.

Earthquakes in this part of the country are not uncommon, as this is close to the New Madrid fault line, a Seismic Zone that encompasses parts of seven American states including Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and to a lesser extent, Mississippi and Indiana.