Small 2.4 quake hits near Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina, USA

An earthquake of magnitude 2.4 occurred only 10 minutes ago 12 miles west of Columbia, South Carolina, United States, the United States Geological Survey reported.
The quake hit at a very shallow depth of miles beneath the epicenter near Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina, USA, around noon on Thursday, February 26th, 2026, at 12:17 pm local time. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.
Our monitoring service identified a second report from The Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) which listed the quake at magnitude 3.4. A third agency, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), reported the same quake at magnitude 3.4.
Towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Lexington (pop. 20,100) located 3 miles from the epicenter, Irmo (pop. 12,100) 5 miles away, Seven Oaks (pop. 15,100) 6 miles away, Oak Grove (pop. 10,300) 6 miles away, and Red Bank (pop. 9,600) 6 miles away. In Saint Andrews (pop. 21,200, 8 miles away), West Columbia (pop. 16,100, 10 miles away), Cayce (pop. 13,600, 10 miles away), and Columbia (pop. 142,400, 12 miles away), the quake was probably not felt.

Earthquake data:
Date & time: Feb 26, 2026 12:17 pm (GMT -5) local time (26 Feb 2026 17:17 GMT)
Magnitude: 2.4
Depth: 0.04 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude: 34.02°N / 81.24°W (Lexington County, South Carolina, United States)
Primary data source: USGS
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquake/news/296042/Small-24-quake-hits-near-Columbia-Richland-County-South-Carolina-USA.html