When was the last earthquake in Virginia? What we know as residents report 2.8 earthquake in Richmond VA

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Virginia Earthquake Damage in Washignton DC - Source: Getty
After the 2011 quake, another earth tremor hits Virginia (Image via Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, tremors were felt in Richmond, Virginia, due to an apparent earthquake. Fortunately, the authorities didn’t get any report of damage to property or life due to the Richmond area quake.

The earth tremors in Richmond and its nearby regions are the first incident in Virginia in more than 13 years. Previously, an earthquake of 5.8 magnitude hit Virginia on August 23, 2011.

According to USGS (United States Geological Survey), residents felt the first shocks around 1:51 pm (Local Time). The authorities determined the epicenter of the tremors in central Virginia near the town of Mineral of Louisa County.

The 2011 Virginia earthquake left many injured, but no fatalities were reported. Besides the injuries, many minor to significant structural damages were reported due to the calamity. At the same time, many across the region also felt aftershocks following the quake.

The natural disaster also caused damage to the Washington Monument and National Cathedral. The government even shuttered the world’s tallest stone structure for almost three years due to repairs.

The 2011 Virginia Earthquake also caused damage in Washington DC (Image via Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis/Getty Images)
The 2011 Virginia Earthquake also caused damage in Washington DC (Image via Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis/Getty Images)

The incident also became the most reported quake in US history, with over 148K reports. However, it was not the only quake that shook Virginia in the recent past. The 2020 Sparta earthquake was another incident that many Virginia residents felt.

It had its epicenter in North Carolina with a magnitude of 5.1, becoming the strongest quake to hit the state in over a century. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported in North Carolina or VA.

Hundreds reported the earthquake in Virginia’s Richmond area on January 14

Tremors were felt in areas nearby Richmond on Tuesday, January 14 (Image via Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis/Getty Images)
Tremors were felt in areas nearby Richmond on Tuesday, January 14 (Image via Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis/Getty Images)

As per the United States Geological Survey’s report, the earthquake hit the Richmond area of Virginia around 5:28 pm (Local Time). The magnitude of the quake was reported to be 2.8. The initial details have revealed that the earth tremor had a depth of almost seven miles.

After the earthquake hit Virginia, hundreds of Richmond and Henrico residents reported feeling the shocks. According to USGS, more than 1,300 reports have been made about the earthquake.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the news, as he wrote,

“We’re aware of a 2.8 magnitude earthquake that was felt in Central Virginia. Our teams are contacting local government officials now, and are working to assess the impact.”

However, most of the replies were about how many didn’t feel the quake, while some laughed it off as a non-existent event. A section of users tried to shift the focus towards the LA wildfires, which have created massive devastation of properties and have claimed over 25 lives.

Edited by Debanjana
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