Tremors from 5.1 magnitude earthquake in N.C. felt throughout southwest Virginia

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) --You may have felt the ground shake a little after 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 9.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 5.1 magnitude earthquake Sunday morning with tremors that were felt throughout our area.

USGS said it occurred at 8:07 a.m., centered approximately 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) south southeast of Sparta, NC, near the North Carolina, Virginia border.

The USGS reported the coordinates of the epicenter to be 36.479N 81.098W and at a depth of 9 kilometers (5.6 miles).

USGS says it is the strongest earthquake in North Carolina in 104 years.

"It was just like a wave that went through the house, it was like the door rattled and then everything else; the windows, the computer, the desk, everything rattled, " said one Madison Heights resident, Ellen Sprouse.

The last earthquake that was in the North Carolina region above 5.0 was a 5.2 magnitude quake in 1916.

Another Madison Heights resident Carey King said she felt the earthquake Sunday morning as well.

"All of a sudden the house started slowly shaking and then the bed just full-on kind of started shaking... it kind of just freaked me out there,” King said.

According to the USGS, the potential for aftershock earthquakes in the region is 58 percent but is not likely they will be magnitude 5 or greater.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.