SPARTA, N.C. — The United States Geological Survey reported an earthquake in Sparta, North Carolina on Sunday morning.
The 5.1 magnitude earthquake was reported at 8:07 a.m. approximately two miles southeast of Sparta -- but people felt it across East Tennessee and as far away as Florida.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, however, damage reports started to come in hours after the quake, including damage to buildings, roads and thrown around belongings inside of houses.
In Knox County, the library's seismograph picked up the tremors. Below you can see the seismograph, where the black squiggles are it picking up the earthquake.
The USGS reports multiple foreshocks before the major 5.1 earthquake, and also said aftershocks are possible, but the chance shrinks with each passing hour since the earthquake.
The last time there was an earthquake of this magnitude in North Carolina was back in 1916, according to the National Weather Service. In East Tennessee, an earthquake of this magnitude has never been felt.
The USGS reports the strongest earthquake as a 4.7 back in 1976.