A 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck southeast Missouri late Wednesday, Nov. 17, according to the United States Geological Survey earthquake map.
The earthquake hit northwest of Poplar Bluff, a town with a population of approximately 17,000.
The earthquake struck just before 9:00 p.m. CST and was initially reported as a 3.7 magnitude. The intensity was changed shortly after.
There were no immediate reports of damage.
The epicenter was approximately 60 miles west of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, a major fault that has the potential to produce large earthquakes.
A 2020 report from the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance found that only 12.7% of residences in the New Madrid region are covered with earthquake insurance, compared to 60.2% in 2000.
Earthquake insurance in parts of Missouri have risen 760% since 2000 due to insurers pulling out of high-risk areas or being subjected to stricter underwriting standards.
Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Missouri
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