Another earthquake was recorded in KY over the weekend. Are more on the way?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- USGS recorded a 2.6 magnitude quake at 3:07 p.m. EST near Middlesboro.
- This event followed a 3.1 magnitude quake in Garrard–Madison on Dec. 28, 2025.
- Seismologist urges: drop, cover and hold on; do not run out of buildings.
Some Kentuckians felt the shake of a 2.6-magnitude earthquake that was recorded in the southeastern part of the state Sunday, not far from the Tennessee border and the Cumberland Gap.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake was recorded at 3:07 p.m. EST in Middlesboro, which is about 130 miles southeast of Lexington near Cumberland Gap National Historic Park.
It follows a 3.1-magnitude quake recorded along the Garrard and Madison County line Dec. 28, but according to University of Kentucky seismologist Seth Carpenter, there’s no connection between the two quakes.
“This earthquake is a typical earthquake” from the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone, Carpenter told the Herald-Leader of the Jan. 4 in an interview Monday.
There are no known injuries from the Middlesboro quake, Carpenter said.
What causes an earthquake? What should you do when one strikes?
According to the USGS, earthquakes are triggered by sudden slips along a fault.
Tectonic plates are vast shelves of solid rock that float along the more fluid asthenosphere within the Earth. When they get stuck along their edges due to friction, stress builds up. When there’s enough stress to overcome that friction, an earthquake occurs, sending out shockwaves of energy that cause shaking you might feel underfoot.
Earthquakes are difficult to predict, and one does not necessarily mean another is on the way.
According to Carpenter, there’s no connection between the Dec. 28 earthquake and the one that occurred in Middlesboro on Sunday. Both events occurred in separate regions.
“We’re not aware of any connection between the two,” Carpenter told the Hearld-Leader Monday. “We would need to see connections between faults in the area, and we’re not aware of any.”
Carpenter added the Middlesboro quake occurred at a depth of about 12 miles below the Earth’s surface, “which is typical for earthquakes in that region.” Combined with its depth and relatively low magnitude, it explains why not many people felt the quake, Carpenter told the Herald-Leader.
If you’re indoors when shaking starts due to an earthquake, drop, cover and hold on. Look for a strong desk or table to shelter under.
“It’s a good idea to go ahead and use one arm to cover your head and then get beneath a table, hopefully a strong one, and then with your whole body under the table, hang on to the table leg with your other arm,” Carpenter previously told the Herald-Leader in an interview.
“That would keep the table from bouncing up or on top of you,” Carpenter said.
If a strong table or desk isn’t available, drop the floor against a strong, interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms. Avoid anything that could easily fall over or shatter. If you’re in bed and woken up by shaking, stay there and cover your head with a pillow.
Do not run out of a building during a strong earthquake.
If you’re outdoors during an earthquake, stay away from buildings and be mindful of shattered glass falling from windows. It doesn’t always fall straight down.
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