Atlanta, GA 4/18/2008 9:42:41 PM
News / Nature

Seismic Activity on New Madrid Fault Lines Causes Illinois, Midwest Earthquake

Seismic activity along the New Madrid Fault lines on April 18 caused a massive earthquake in West Salem, IL, wreaking havoc in the Midwest states of Illinois and Indiana.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake today reached 5.2 on the Richter scale. New Salem is located in Southeastern Illinois and is 120 miles from St. Louis, Missouri.

The earthquake caused skyscrapers in Chicago's Loop to rattle, as well as homes in Cincinnati, Ohio. The tremors were felt all along the Midwest, but also as far north as Ontario and as far south as northern Georgia.

However, the tremors in Chicago, Cincinnati and other states in the Midwest did not cause immediate damage.

Initially, the USGS said the earthquake, which occurred at 5:37am EST, was a 5.4 on the Richter scale, but has since revised it to a 5.2.

The New Madrid Fault lines, also known as the New Madrid Seismic Zone or the Reelfoot Rift, runs across Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee.

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