FAIRFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — Make it six. Another day brings another earthquake to the Jenkinsville and Monticello area during a relatively active week seismically for the region.
While none of the six earthquakes have been large, they have been felt by some. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the latest rumble happened at around 4:23 a.m. and registered at magnitude 2.3.
And while the epicenter of this earthquake is believed to be below Lake Monticello, 10 people on land reported to the USGS that they felt it.
Dr. Steve Jaume told News19's Tai Wong on Friday that the reservoir itself may actually be partially to blame due to the added pressure they place on the ground below them
Jaume is with the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences at the College of Charleston.
"Most reservoirs don’t do this, but there are a select few around the planet -- and the Monticello Reservoir is one of them -- that experience these swarms around the reservoir," he said.
He said that the water also seeps into cracks under the lake over time adding that "some of the cracks are going to be faults."
That, in turn, makes them move more easily. At this point, it's unclear how long the small earthquakes will last, with the first of the latest six being felt last Monday and the rest happening almost daily along the east side of the lake since then.
Nevertheless, they're constant proof that, while not entirely uncommon, the land underneath some parts of South Carolina remains somewhat active.