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Yet another quake, a 4.5, hits the region

BY CALEB HALE, The Southern

Monday, April 21, 2008 1:15 AM CDT

Another temblor has rocked the Southern Illinois region, centered in the same location as two moderate earthquakes Friday.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports a preliminary magnitude 4.5 quake occurred five miles northwest of Mount Carmel at 12:38 a.m. Monday at a depth of 6.2 miles deep.  The event is apparently centered in the Wabash Valley fault zone, a northern section of the New Madrid fault line, which runs under all of Southern Illinois.

Monday's quake is the third significant shake in the area since 4:37 a.m. Friday, when a 5.2 magnitude quake was felt through much of the Midwest.  A second 4.6 magnitude quake was felt at 10:14 a.m. Friday.  The USGS reported no significant activity either Saturday or Sunday.

Friday's quake was on par with the strongest earthquake felt in the region since 1968.  Harvey Henson, a geologist with Southern Illinois University Carbondale, told The Southern Friday a 5.2 quake followed by a 4.6 was rare for the particular fault zone involved historically.

The quakes so far have done little damage, but they have reminded locals of the seismic dangers beneath our region.  Friday the state sent inspectors to examine bridges and overpasses in the southern part of the state.  Officials have said they are prepared to respond should any significant damage occur as the result of an earthquake.