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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — In an unusual geological event for the Sunshine State, a magnitude 4 earthquake was recorded late Wednesday night off the east coast of Florida. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the seismic activity occurred at 10:48 p.m., approximately 100 miles east of Cape Canaveral.
Those who are residents in and around Cape Canaveral are no strangers of their homes shaking from the weekly, powreful rocket launches at Kennedy Space Center. Those launches shake homes in close proximity much more than that felt from the earthquake last night.
Despite the rarity of such occurrences in Florida, the tremor was felt by residents in coastal communities. Reports from individuals in Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Cocoa Beach described the shaking as weak to light in intensity. The USGS received at least 10 such reports, indicating a broader awareness of the event among the citizens in Brevard.
The earthquake’s epicenter, located beneath the ocean’s surface, and its considerable distance from the coastline, contributed to the minimal impact experienced on land. Positioned about 6 miles underneath the ocean floor, the quake’s effects were significantly mitigated, sparing the region from any substantial damage.
Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection has long maintained that the state’s risk of earthquakes is very low. This recent tremor, while noteworthy, does not suggest a significant shift in the geological stability of the region. However, it serves as a reminder of the ever-present, albeit infrequent, potential for natural events that can catch residents and scientists alike by surprise.
The mild tremors of Wednesday night are serving as a topic of conversation rather than concern.