Small Earthquake Beneath Lake Erie, Ohio

Origin Time: 11 December, 2005, 05:20:02.38 UTC
Location: 41.95º N   -80.84º W
Magnitude: 2.0 - local magnitude (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory)
Depth: 9.9 km (6.2 miles)

A small earthquake occurred beneath Lake Erie approximately 6 kilometers north-northwest of Ashtabula at 12:20 a.m. EST on December 11. One person on the west side of Ashtabula reported a loud booming sound. Individuals who felt this event are encouraged to report it at the link below. Earthquakes of this size do not cause damage but can be felt by individuals close to the epicenter. However, the shaking from such a small earthquake is commonly so minor and brief, that many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. The event occurred at the general location of a 2.5-magnitude earthquake in 1995 and a 2.0-magnitude earthquake in 2000.