Pair of earthquakes rock East Tennessee in wake of rockslide

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Updated: 1:53 AM Oct 27, 2009 Pair of earthquakes rock East Tennessee in wake of rockslide A pair of earthquakes rocked East Tennessee between Sunday afternoon and early Monday morning. Posted: 1:53 AM Oct 27, 2009 Reporter: Nick Bona Email Address: nick.bona@wvlt-tv.com

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – A pair of earthquakes rocked East Tennessee between Sunday afternoon and early Monday morning.

The first quake occurred on Sunday at 2:47 p.m.

Officials from the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the 2.0 magnitude earthquake had an epicenter located about three miles northeast of Friendsville in Blount County. The exact epicenter was in the backyard of a home located off Miser School Road on Michelle Drive. It originated in a small fault located 12.1 miles underground.

The second earthquake occurred on Monday at 1:46 a.m.

USGS officials said the 1.1 magnitude quake had an epicenter located seven miles southeast of Vonore, near Branch Road in the Cherokee National Forest. It originated in a fault located 14.3 miles underground.

Most of East Tennessee sits within the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone. It’s considered one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the southeast.

The rockslide that occurred early Sunday morning along the Tennessee-North Carolina border was not triggered by any sort of seismic event. State officials said it happened due to the "wedge effect," which occurs when gaps form in rock piles due to freezing and thawing.

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