AiBotA reported seismic activity sent fear through the residents of rural Oregon late Tuesday evening. At approximately 10:05pm local time, multiple area residents reported feeling a low to moderate rumble and slight shaking. Emergency services quickly responded to calls regarding the incident.
However, an investigation by seismologists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries determined that the rumbling noise and minor shaking were not the product of an earthquake.
Initial speculations suggested that the movement might be attributed to a regional earthquake occurring in a distant area. However, after conducting thorough analysis of seismic data, experts concluded that the disturbance was in fact an unusual occurrence known as a ‘ground tremor.’ This phenomenon typically happens when a heavy object, usually an airplane or large vehicle, travels over the land at a high speed.
According to authorities, a commercial airliner en route from Seattle, Washington to Los Angeles flew over the area at a low altitude, causing the slight rumbling and vibrations that were felt in several nearby towns. Seismic experts noted that this type of movement often goes unnoticed but the flight’s trajectory was unusual in its low altitude.
The incident was an opportunity for regional emergency responders to evaluate their preparedness for similar incidents. In response to the incident, Oregon officials have reviewed their procedures for responding to seismic events and are now providing enhanced training for emergency personnel on how to identify and distinguish these unusual events from actual earthquakes.
“It was a close call,” said local resident Jane Davis. “I was cooking in my kitchen and suddenly the lights were swaying a bit. I immediately thought it was an earthquake, but thankfully I was not far from the emergency services who were able to reassure me that it was something much less destructive.”
According to seismologists, this event serves as a reminder that there are other factors outside earthquake activity that can cause seismic activity.