New Madrid Seismic Zone - Other Midwestern Earthquake Zones

Other Midwestern Earthquake Zones

On April 18, 2008, there was a 5.2 earthquake with an epicenter 7 km (4.3 mi) north northeast of Bellmont, Illinois. The earthquake was about 160 miles (260 km) northeast of New Madrid. The earthquake highlighted activity on the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone fault system that extends from Gallatin County, Illinois, and White County, Illinois, and Posey County, Indiana, northeast 97 km (60 mi) and spans an area that is about 48 km (30 mi) in the Ozark dome region, which covers parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. Researchers say that at least eight earthquakes with estimated magnitude 6.5 to 7.5 have occurred in the last 20,000 years. The largest of the quakes was centered about 25 km (16 mi) west of Vincennes, Indiana, about 6,100 years ago. The fault zone is considered an aulacogen related to the New Madrid fault line. A major earthquake in this zone now could cause major damage and loss of life in Evansville and surrounding areas of southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Kentucky.

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