4.0 Earthquake Centered In Maine, Felt In Vermont

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An earthquake centered in southern Maine rumbled across the New England region Tuesday night.

The US Geological Survey reports the epicenter of the 4.0 magnitude quake was about three miles west of Hollis Center, Maine, and about 20 miles west of Portland. The Geological Survey says the quake struck at 7:12 p.m., and it was felt as far away as Boston and  Montpelier.

The quake was also felt in New Hampshire and as far south as Rhode Island and Connecticut.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in the area, but social media lit up with public posts: "Excitement in Montpelier!" "Shaking in Weston." "Woke me from my nap."

"Thought the furnace was blowing up," wrote Kathrie Aldrich Cote on Vermont Public Radio’s Facebook page. "Scared the dog a bit."

"Felt it for 6-8 disturbing seconds here in Guildhall," posted Laura Wilson in her message from the Northeast Kingdom.

"Experienced a definite earthquake here for a few seconds," Ford von Reyn of Fairlee wrote in an email to VPR News.  "House shook but no damage."

Did you feel the earthquake? Let us know in the comments below or post your comments on our Facebook page.

The US Geological Survey says people in New England have felt small earthquakes and suffered damage from larger ones since colonial times:

Moderately damaging earthquakes strike somewhere in the region every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt roughly twice a year. The Boston area was damaged three times within 28 years in the middle 1700’s, and New York City was damaged in 1737 and 1884. The largest known New England earthquakes occurred in 1638 (magnitude 6.5) in Vermont or New Hampshire, and in 1755 (magnitude 5.8) offshore from Cape Ann northeast of Boston. The Cape Ann earthquake caused severe damage to the Boston waterfront. The most recent New England earthquake to cause moderate damage occurred in 1940 (magnitude 5.6) in central New Hampshire. (US Geological Survey)

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