ELGIN, S.C. (WBTW) — A small earthquake was recorded early Thursday morning in an area east of South Carolina’s capital city, the state Emergency Management Division said.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the 2.3 magnitude earthquake hit at about 1:15 a.m. about 3.1 miles east of the Kershaw County town of Elgin.

That region of the state has seen numerous small quakes in recent years, including a 2.2 magnitude one in March 2024.

According to the USGS, small earthquakes have been a frequent occurrence in the inland areas of the Carolinas and parts of Georgia and Tennessee for hundreds of years. A magnitude 4.0 eastern U.S. earthquake typically can be felt at many places as far as 60 miles from where it occurred.

April 24, 2025 | CBS – 13 WBTW (Florence, SC)
Author/Byline: Dennis Bright | Section: State – Regional