John McCarthy
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A minor earthquake of 4.5 on the Richter Scale struck St. Thomas about 7:13 a.m. on Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake occurred about 27 miles underground but was felt by some in the north of St. Thomas, the USGS said.
The initial earthquake was followed by two smaller aftershocks measuring 3.5 and 3.6 on the Richter Scale.
On March 11, St. Thomas registered an earthquake of 4.1 on the Richter Scale.
All four quakes, including Thursday’s, occurred in an active seismic area called the Sombrero Seismic Zone.
St. Thomas has experienced eight earthquakes in the last seven days, 36 earthquakes in the past 30 days and 589 earthquakes in the last 365 days.
