4.0 Magnitude Earthquake Reported Off Florida's Space Coast Ahead of Rocket Launch: ‘Pretty Rare’

Location of the earthquake that shook portions of Florida late Wednesday night.Photo:USGS

USGS

The4.0-magnitude quakeoriginated 163 kilometers (about 101 miles) east of Cape Canaveral just after 10:45 p.m. local time, according to theUnited States Geological Survey.

The earthquake was felt in various towns and cities in the Sunshine State, with reports coming in from St. Augustine, Port Orange, Palm Coast, Edgewater, Winter Springs, Lake Mary, Deland and more.

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Some people confused the quake with the launch,Florida Todayreported.

Though Wednesday’s earthquake was located off Florida’s east coast, most earthquakes that impact the state occur near the Panhandle, according to theUSGS.

The USGS said the most recent quake reported in Florida took place just south of the Florida-Alabama border on Sept. 3, 2020, per WOFL. It was ranked 1.8 in magnitude on the Richter scale.

The largest earthquake in Florida history was a 4.4-magnitude quake recorded on Jan. 12, 1879, according to theUniversity of Florida.

source: people.com