Community Corner

Latest Earthquake Delivers Peabody Residents Another Jolt

The second small earthquake in two weeks may explain some of the shaking going on in the city as of late.

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A 1.2 magnitude earthquake was reported in Peabody early last night -- the second confirmed earthquake in two weeks.
A 1.2 magnitude earthquake was reported in Peabody early last night -- the second confirmed earthquake in two weeks. (Patch Graphics)

PEABODY, MA — There's been a lot of moving and shaking going in Peabody lately and it has some residents more than a little concerned.

For the second time in two weeks, the city recorded a small earthquake Wednesday with the United States Geological Survey citing a 1.2 magnitude event about 6:45 p.m.

Last weekend, a 1.4 earthquake was measured in Peabody.

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While the earthquakes may account for some of the noise and rumblings that residents have experienced in recent weeks, experts say that level of seismic activity is often unnoticeable — leaving some to question on social media whether something greater is going on.

The city has dealt with several unexplained rocking and rumbling in recent months, including one episode this winter when residents reported loud booms they said shook houses and sounded like explosions.

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Peabody fire and police investigated the reports in February — even sending out drones and trained K9 units the next day in hopes of finding a source for the blasts that some residents claimed caused cracks in their ceilings.

But, despite exhausting research of similar incidents across the country and consulting a Salem State University team that studies weather-related phenomenon, police said they never determined a firm reason for the blasts and concluded they were most likely a "naturally occurring incident."

In the months since more city residents have reported random crashes and booms to Patch and on social media, many of which also occurred without explanation.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

More Patch Coverage: Small Earthquake Gives Peabody Bit Of A Shake

Peabody Police Use Drones, K9 Units To Investigate 'Explosions'

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