A minor earthquake struck Lake County in Northeast Ohio on Wednesday evening, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The 2.1 magnitude quake hit at about 1.5 miles southwest of Madison. Residents in the area reported experiencing some shaking.
Ohio does experience earthquakes, though they are generally minor. The state sits near several fault systems, most notably the Anna-Shelby fault zone in western Ohio, which has produced some of the state’s strongest historical quakes. Northeast Ohio also sees occasional seismic activity, partly linked to the Clarendon-Linden fault system that runs through the region.
Ohio is not located on a major tectonic plate boundary like California, so large damaging earthquakes are rare. However, the state has seen quakes strong enough to be felt by residents over the years.
There is also ongoing concern about induced seismicity — earthquakes triggered by underground injection of wastewater from oil and gas operations — which has been tied to increased activity in parts of eastern and southern Ohio.
