FRANKLIN, N.C. — A magnitude 4.1 earthquake centered near Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was felt across much of western North Carolina early Saturday, prompting a wave of 911 calls to local emergency services.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake struck at 9:04 a.m. ET, approximately 21 kilometers southeast of Greenback, Tennessee, with a depth of 24.9 kilometers. Residents in Macon County and other parts of western North Carolina reported shaking that lasted several seconds.
The Macon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it received a surge of calls following the tremor, urging residents to only contact 911 for structural damage or other active emergencies. “Please only call 911 if you have structural damage due to the earthquake, or any other type of emergency,” the office stated in a post on its official Facebook page.
No immediate reports of injuries or significant damage have been confirmed in western North Carolina or eastern Tennessee. Officials continue to monitor for any aftershocks or further developments.
Earthquakes of this magnitude are uncommon but not unprecedented in the region, where the Appalachian fault lines can occasionally produce moderate seismic activity.
Regional response and safety reminders
Emergency officials emphasized the importance of reserving 911 lines for critical situations to ensure rapid response for those in immediate danger. The sheriff’s office thanked the public for its cooperation during the incident.
The earthquake was widely felt across neighboring counties, including Swain, Jackson, and Clay, according to preliminary reports and user-submitted data to the USGS’s “Did You Feel It?” portal.