United States Geological Survey
By Anna Skinner, Gabe Whisnant, and John Feng
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A magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck on Thursday about 3.1 miles west‑southwest of Irmo, South Carolina, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The shallow quake was centered near Columbia, the state capital, and there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. It occurred at a depth of .1 miles and struck at around 12:17 p.m. ET, according to the USGS's latest earthquakes website. As of Thursday at around 1:30 p.m. ET, there were more than 250 reports of people feeling the quake.
"Although not often thought of as being 'earthquake country,' South Carolina is a seismically active region, especially for smaller, magnitude 2 to 3 earthquakes," a USGS spokesperson told Newsweek. "Today's M3.0 earthquake is just one of dozens that have occurred over the last 25 years. The largest was a M4.1 quake near Parksville, SC, in 2014. Typically, M3.0 quakes won't cause damage, but might be felt by people nearby. Our Did You Feel It? self-reporting tool shows 253 people reported shaking. Aftershocks are unlikely, but it wouldn't be surprising for another similarly sized quake to occur in South Carolina in the next year or two."
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Damage typically doesn't occur until earthquakes hit 4.5 magnitude. When an earthquake reaches a magnitude of 7.0 or higher, it is considered a major earthquake.
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Where Was the Epicenter of the South Carolina Earthquake?
USGS data showed that the quake struck 3 miles west-southwest of Irmo, near the center of the state. Irmo is 12 miles northwest of Columbia.
People in Columbia reported feeling the quake. Reports also came from Red Bank to the south.
What Causes an Earthquake?
Earthquakes occur when stress builds up along faults in the Earth’s crust as tectonic plates grind past, collide with, or pull away from each other, eventually causing the rocks to break and release energy in the form of seismic waves. This sudden release triggers the shaking felt at the surface, with the exact point of rupture known as the focus and the point directly above it called the epicenter. While most quakes stem from plate movement, they can also be triggered by volcanic activity, shifting magma, or, more rarely, human activities such as deep well injection or large reservoir filling.
USGS research geophysicist Thomas Pratt told Newsweek that although the South Carolina earthquake on its own is not unusual, what is odd is that it is the fourth one striking the immediate area in the last week. He referred to the phenomenon as an earthquake swarm. At times, such a swarm of minor earthquakes can indicate that a larger, more damaging earthquake is on the horizon, but Pratt said there's no way to predict such an event, and such an occurrence would be "very rare."
Last year in August, an earthquake swarm of around a dozen quakes struck South Carolina's Greenwood County over roughly one week, with the largest measuring 3.0.
When an earthquake strikes, the safest response is to drop, cover, and hold on: Drop to the ground before the shaking knocks you over, take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture such as a table or desk, and hold on until the shaking stops to keep the shelter over you. If no shelter is available, protect your head and neck with your arms and crouch next to an interior wall away from windows, heavy furniture, or anything that could fall. Stay indoors until the shaking ends, and if you’re outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines.
Update 2/26/26, 1:42 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 2/26/26, 2:20 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 2/26/26, 2:55 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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