Small Earthquake Recorded in Southern Maine

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has confirmed a minor earthquake took place in southern Maine on Sunday evening.

The tremor, which registered a magnitude of 1.9, was centered less than two miles southeast of Limington. According to WGME 13, a resident in nearby Standish reported feeling the quake shortly after 9:30 p.m., describing a brief but noticeable shaking.

At that magnitude, the quake was considered very small and posed no risk of damage. Still, even minor seismic events tend to capture attention in New England, where earthquakes are infrequent but not unheard of.

According to the USGS, Maine typically experiences several small earthquakes each year, most of which go unfelt by residents. Quakes under a magnitude of 2.0 are often only detected by sensitive monitoring equipment, though occasionally, people living close to the epicenter can feel the movement.

For scientists, even small earthquakes provide valuable data. WGME reported that the USGS encourages anyone who felt Sunday’s tremor to report their experience on the agency’s “Did You Feel It?” page. These firsthand reports help researchers better understand how seismic waves travel through the region’s unique geology.

While this earthquake was minor, it serves as a reminder that New England, though far from major fault lines, is not immune to seismic activity.