A magnitude 4.0 earthquake struck the Missouri Bootheel near Cooter Thursday afternoon. It was located about seven miles underground. The quake was initially listed as a 3.9 magnitude quake, but was later upgraded by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Cooter is in Pemiscot County and located near the Tennessee and Arkansas borders. Shaking was felt in at least six states — Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and Mississippi. U.S. Geological Survey data also shows some light shaking detected in southwestern Indiana, near Evansville.
Over 700 people reported feeling the quake to the U.S. Geological Survey. Tremors were reported in Memphis and south of Jonesboro, Arkansas.
No damage or injuries have been reported in the affected areas.
This is one of only ten magnitude 4.0 or above quakes in the Bootheel region since 2000. The New Madrid Seismic Zone has produced hundreds of small earthquakes annually, and while most are too small to feel, larger events like the 1811-1812 New Madrid quakes cause massive ground deformation.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates a 20% chance of a magnitude 3 aftershock in the next week, with a 4% chance of an aftershock above magnitude 4.
Paul Glass from KCRV in Caruthersville contributed this report
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