The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 4.1 magnitude earthquake off the Delaware coastline Thursday afternoon.
According to the USGS, the earthquake occurred at 4:47 p.m. in the Delaware Bay -- centering just 6 miles east-northeast of the state's capital of Dover.
There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries, according to local officials.
From the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA): There are no reports of damage or injuries at this time. Anyone sustaining serious damage of an emergency nature to a building or home should call their local 911 center to report it. #netDE #delaware #doverDE https://t.co/rv15X9Oo1j
— Delaware.gov (@delaware_gov) November 30, 2017
Initially, the USGS reported the earthquake at 5.1, but later downgraded the number to 4.4 then 4.1.
The quake jolted downtown Dover, sending lawmakers and workers in the statehouse outdoors to see what happened. Police and emergency officials did not have any immediate reports of damage or injuries.
Paul Caruso is a geophysicist with the USGS's earthquake information center in Colorado. He said the quake was widely felt around the Mid-Atlantic region.
Caruso said he didn't expect any significant damage, given the small size of the quake.
WUSA9 Meteorologist Howard Bernstein compared the Delaware quake to one DC felt in Aug. 2011. That earthquake, which centered in Mineral, Va., measured 5.8.
BREAKING: @USGS revises Delaware earthquake again down to 4.1 Magnitude. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake (Mineral, VA 8/2011) is 50.118 times bigger than a magnitude 4.1 earthquake, but it is 354.813 times stronger (energy release). @wusa9 @TenaciousTopper pic.twitter.com/chMcg4pBky
— Howard Bernstein (@hbwx) November 30, 2017
Delaware was reclassified from being a low seismic risk state to being a medium seismic risk state In 1997 by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The largest recorded event in Delaware occurred in 1973 and had an estimated magnitude of 3.8, according to the University of Delaware's geological survey.
An even more powerful earthquake struck Delaware before that, according to UD, but that was before scientists took measurements. That event took place in 1871 and was an estimated magnitude 4.1.
The U.S. Geological Service reported intensity levels -- a different measurement than magnitude -- ranging from 3 (weak) to 5 (moderate) throughout Delaware.
Intensity levels here have reached 3 and above at least 10 times since 1983, when an intensity 5 quake (magnitude 2.9) shook Wilmington's Forty Acres neighborhood.
Some on Twitter report the earthquake could be felt in parts of Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, too.
Earthquake in some parts of Maryland @wusa9
— Avery Jones (@AveryJo_) November 30, 2017
Felt in West Chester, PA
— Nate Bachert (@NateBachert) November 30, 2017
Felt it in Gaithersburg @wusa9 #earthquake
— Cynthia V (@cindyyyvv) November 30, 2017
If you felt the earthquake tell us on our Facebook post:
Editor's Note: Information for this story was provided by The Associated Press and The News Journal in addition to our original reporting.
