🦕 Mysterious earthquakes in South Carolina may be tied to historic disaster, study says

A new theory has emerged for the ongoing earthquakes in eastern South Carolina, and a century-old culprit has been identified. Rather than typical earthquakes, the region may be experiencing aftershocks, according to a news release from the American Geophysical Union. Aftershocks of what, you ask? The devastating 6.7- to 7.3-magnitude quake that hit Charleston 138 years ago. It’s suspected more than 70% of the ongoing quakes of 2.5 magnitude or above in the region may be aftershocks from that 1886 temblor, researchers reported. Considered “the most damaging earthquake to occur in the Southeastern United States,” the quake killed 60 people and damaged “many” buildings in the city, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.