Make wishtv.com your home page

6.5 Magnitude earthquake in Idaho on Tuesday

Idaho Earthquake

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The United States Geological Survey reported a 6.5 magnitude earthquake that struck just before 6 p.m. Mountain time about 80 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho.

There have been no reports of injuries or major damage as a result of the earthquake. It was felt in several of the neighboring states surrounding Idaho, and even across the border in southwestern portions of Canada.

According to earthquake track, Tuesday’s earthquake was the second strongest recorded for the state of Idaho. According to earthquake track, the strongest for the state was a registered 6.9 in 1983. There were two fatalities during that quake.

While Idaho doesn’t fall on a major fault line like we typically see along the Pacific coast, the stress of the tectonic plates of the North American and Pacific can cause fractures and smaller faults into the interior of the plates.

COURTESY: USGS

No reports of the earthquake being felt here in Indiana, however seismographs at DePauw University did show the activity close to 8 p.m. Eastern.

COURTESY: DEPAUW UNIVERSITY

Typically in Indiana, earthquake activity is felt from the New Madrid fault line, which starts in southern Illinois and rides south along the Mississippi River. The most recent significant seismic activity from that fault line was in 2008, when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake was centered in southern Indiana and felt all over central Indiana.