A small earthquake rumbled through Meigs County Thursday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey.

USGS said the 1.7 magnitude earthquake registered in Decatur, Tennessee at 4:20 a.m. Thursday, January 3.

The quake follows a string of seismic events impacting East Tennessee in recent weeks. On December 12, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake rattled Decatur, and was followed by a magnitude 3.3 aftershock.

Recent earthquakes:East Tennessee jolted by strongest earthquake to hit area in 45 years

Recent earthquakes:Earthquakes rock East Tennessee more frequently than most of the U.S.

The next day, two minor earthquakes were recorded in Blaine and in Oak Ridge, just south of the Manhattan Project National Historic Park.

On Saturday, Dec. 15, another 3.0 magnitude earthquake rumbled Mascot. Then on Dec. 23, a 2.8 magnitude earthquake registered in Vonore.

Due to the government shutdown, a USGS spokesperson could not be reached to speak about seismic activity in East Tennessee.

The area sits on a seismic zone and sees more seismic activity than most of the Eastern United States, though earthquakes have been minor in the past.

In 2014, the United States Geological Survey increased the earthquake hazard potential of the area, rating parts of East Tennessee at the second-highest level of risk (on a scale from 1 to 7) – including much of Blount, Knox, Loudon and Monroe counties.



