October 16th, 2012
07:43 PM ET

Earthquake recorded in Maine

[Update 8:55 p.m. ET] The U.S. Geological Survey revised its report of Tuesday's earthquake to magnitude 4.0, down from a preliminary magnitude of 4.6. The epicenter was pinpointed 4 miles west-southwest of Hollis Center, Maine, at a shallow depth of 4.2 miles.

Despite the downgrade, the quake was felt as far away as Boston, Massachusetts; Albany, New York, and even Waterbury, Connecticut, according to the USGS.

You can report your earthquake experience to the USGS at the above link, as well as adding your comment to the many at the end of this post.

"My entire house shook for 3 to 4 seconds. It felt like it was about to collapse," a viewer from Everett, Massachusetts, wrote to CNN affiliate WCVB in Boston.

"I live in Brockton (Massachusetts) and we just felt EVERYTHING shake here in Brockton," another viewer told his station.
Viewer Phillip Smith in Gorham, Maine, told CNN affiliate WCSH he felt a "Loud bang and 10 seconds of shaking ... scared us in Gorham. We must have qualified out here for the Guinness book of records: 10,000 homeowners at the same time run down to their basements to check if their furnaces have blown up."
The governor of Massachusetts said on Twitter that no harm was done:
Several people posted pictures of earthquake "damage" in the form of spilled pretzels and goldfish crackers.
Maine resident Brett O'Kelly sardonically assessed what may be the quake's greatest impact:

[Original post] An earthquake of preliminary magnitude 4.6  hit Maine at 7:12 p.m. ET Tuesday, according to the USGS website. The earthquake happened 3 miles (5 kilometers) west of Hollis Center, Maine.

 Post by: ,
Filed under: Earth • Earthquake • Maine • U.S.
soundoff (322 Responses)
  1. arlenemaine

    Born in and lived in CA for over quarter century...I used to think like you, but now in Maine, I DON'T...thank goodness, and it's different when there are no earthquake retrofits here, no need for condescension, please.

    October 16, 2012 at 8:54 pm | Report abuse |
    • Skye

      You seem to insult people from California a lot and yes I know you lived there, who cares! Stop being such a bigot!

      October 17, 2012 at 12:58 pm | Report abuse |
    • Skye

      This is a reply to arlenemaine

      October 17, 2012 at 1:00 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Marty

    Was very noticeable here on Martha's Vineyard.

    October 16, 2012 at 8:55 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Shakenup

    Tripped during football practice, stood up and I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get my balance back... Took me and the other coaches a second to realize the ground was actually moving, I guess it's time to lose some weight.

    October 16, 2012 at 8:56 pm | Report abuse |
    • freshnewblog

      Hays. I know what you mean. I thought that my upstairs neighbors were probably moving their couch at one point.

      October 16, 2012 at 8:59 pm | Report abuse |
  4. thegreyreport

    Felt it here in Dutchess County New York for about 10 seconds

    October 16, 2012 at 8:57 pm | Report abuse |
  5. George Wenger

    Felt it here for approx 10 seconds at approx 7:13PM this evening. No damage of any sort.

    October 16, 2012 at 8:58 pm | Report abuse |
    • George Wenger

      Meant to say that "here" is 22 miles south of Boston, MA

      October 16, 2012 at 8:59 pm | Report abuse |
  6. letsbereal

    I agree with "well, duh "

    October 16, 2012 at 8:58 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Bob

    Felt it here in Hudson, NH.

    October 16, 2012 at 8:59 pm | Report abuse |
  8. John Maggs

    Our chairs felt as if they were being bounced up and down. We each looked at the other in disbelief and concern. Our home is in Conway, Massachusetts.

    October 16, 2012 at 9:00 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Kris

    Whole house shook in Warwick, Rhode Island. My parents live in Ellsworth ME. Cant get in touch with them. Hope all is ok.

    October 16, 2012 at 9:01 pm | Report abuse |
    • Doug

      At school at a potluck, though the geothermal system blew up! AT&T and Verizon phone lines were down in Westbrook ( 1 mile north of Portland, ME

      October 16, 2012 at 9:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Roxanne

      I'm sure your parents are fine. This happened near the western part of me. and they are downeast. I'm alot closer than they are and I haven't heard of anything bad around here.

      October 16, 2012 at 9:18 pm | Report abuse |
    • Tim Keenan

      Phones are coming back up Kris, evens cells were down for a while. I'm from Harrison Maine, felt it very well. There are some reports of damage coming in now, house fire in Saco and damaged building in Biddeford.

      October 16, 2012 at 9:19 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Larry C$

    Felt it in Manchester, NH. I thought it was a gust of wind at first. Whole house trembled but that was all.

    October 16, 2012 at 9:01 pm | Report abuse |
  11. JAH

    We live in Billerica, MA and it felt and sounded like something hit the house. It shook the house for sure.

    October 16, 2012 at 9:04 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kim

      Exactly how it felt in Acton, MA.

      October 16, 2012 at 10:52 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Shane

    Glad to see that there is no damage or at the very most minimal damage

    October 16, 2012 at 9:04 pm | Report abuse |
  13. sarah

    Here in buxton, ME( 1 mile from Hollis) it felt like my house was going to fall..

    October 16, 2012 at 9:09 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Hughezart

    Felt it here pretty well...oh, wait...Hollis is only about 15 miles from here...of course I did 🙂

    October 16, 2012 at 9:09 pm | Report abuse |
  15. geeworker

    just another test firing of the governments ultra top secret magma displacement project called earth shaker nothing to worry about

    October 16, 2012 at 9:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • mo

      I moved from Los Angeles for this! Yeah, looks like the tunnels from the former Brunswick AFB have connected with Mass. in a big way. Hope the trip to the feeding cages is short...lol

      October 16, 2012 at 9:32 pm | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
« Back to main