Earthquake in Eton, GA: felt across Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina

ETON, Ga. – The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has confirmed that an earthquake of a 2.6 magnitude struck 16 km NNE of Eton, Georgia around midnight on Jan. 21, 2021.

According to the University of Memphis, the earthquake occurred north of Eton, Georgia, near the state line with Tennessee just before midnight on January 20, 2022. According to initial reports, the earthquake reached a depth of 13.4 km.

The earthquake was also reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS monitors and reports on earthquakes, assesses earthquake impacts and hazards, and conducts targeted research on the causes and effects of earthquakes. We undertake these activities as part of the larger National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), a four-agency partnership established by Congress.

A very rare occurrence in the state, the USGS reported no earthquakes over a 2.5 magnitude in the state in the last survey from 2010 – 2015 and the last time an earthquake over 3.0 in magnitude occurred in the nearby areas was near South Cleveland, Tennessee in November 2009.

It was reportedly felt from and heard from all around North Georgia to Tennessee and North Carolina, including: Dahlonega, Georgia, Blue Ridge, Georgia,  Morganton, Georgia, Cleveland, Tennesse and Murphy, North Carolina, just to name a few.