From staff reports

ASHEVILLE - Did you feel the earth move?

The U.S. Geological Survey reports an earthquake at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday about 20 miles west northwest of Asheville. The magnitude 2.9 earthquake was about 2 miles beneath the surface.

There were no immediate reports of damages or injuries. The earthquake could be felt in downtown Asheville.

The biggest quake in the the region — which includes the mountains of North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and parts of South Carolina — was a 5.1 magnitude tremor in 1916.

"Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two," the survey's website says.

North Buncombe earthquake goes 'boom,' felt by many

Minor earthquake reported near Burnsville