CARAWAY, Ark. (AP) - An earthquake rattled a portion of Arkansas and Tennessee on Thursday. No injuries were reported.
A report from the U.S. Geological Survey said in a preliminary report that the quake had a magnitude of 4.2. A quake of magnitude 4 can cause moderate damage.
The quake was centered in a rural area four miles east of Caraway and occurred at a depth of 10 miles. The region is in the New Madrid seismic zone. The center was just south of Milligan Ridge in Mississippi County.
The temblor was felt as far away as Memphis, Tenn., 50 miles away.
Mississippi County sheriff's dispatcher Helen Parker said no damage was reported but the switchboard lit up after the earth rumbled.
"Calls were from curious people who want to know what it was," Parker said. "One (person) called to verify it to make sure his daddy wasn't crazy."
Telephone service was interrupted briefly in Manila, 10 miles northeast of the epicenter. The ground shook for anywhere from 2 to 40 seconds, according to residents.
The quake occurred about 8:05 a.m.
The New Madrid seismic zone takes in parts of at least five states - Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. One of the largest earthquakes ever to strike in North America was centered at New Madrid, Mo., during a series of temblors in the winter of 1811-1812. One was estimated at magnitude 7.5 and rang church bells in Boston.
