Augusta, GA
4.1-magnitude quake rattles parts of region, and some feel it here
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Some Georgia residents were startled Saturday morning as an earthquake from Tennessee shook several nearby states.
The quake’s epicenter was near Greenback, about 30 miles southwest of Knoxville. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, it happened at 9:04 a.m. and had an estimated magnitude of 4.1.
According to the Augusta Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency, a few people could feel it in Augusta.
One resident of Fort Eisenhower wrote on Facebook: “It was very minor, just some bookshelves tapping against the wall, so it would’ve been missed if we hadn’t have been just waking up.”
Another Augusta resident reported her bathroom door rattled.
But people across metro Atlanta and as far south as Macon said the quake shook their homes. Tremors were also felt near Charlotte.
U.S. Geological Survey research geophysicist William Yeck said the quake happened in the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone, which is made up of several small, deep fault lines. This earthquake’s epicenter was about 12 miles below the surface.
“We do expect for earthquakes to happen here, so we know they can happen, but they just happen so rarely that people just aren’t used to experiencing them,” he said.
More than 40,000 people called the Geological Survey to report the earthquake.
Gabriela Reilly was making waffles with her husband when they felt their entire home shake in Braselton, Ga., northeast of Atlanta.
“Our ceiling fan started shaking for about 10 seconds,” she said. “I thought a giant aircraft had flown low right over the neighborhood, but my husband said, ‘No, that was definitely an earthquake!’”
Jason Pack was still in bed at his home outside Knoxville when he felt the walls shaking and heard a rumbling that was loud enough to wake up his family and for the dog to start barking.
“In east Tennessee, you’re used to tornadoes and floods, that kind of thing,” Pack said. “It’s unusual to have an earthquake.”
Pack has experienced tremors before, although this one is probably the strongest he’s felt in Tennessee.
“Even though this one was small, it’s a good reminder — if it had been a big quake, would you know what to do? Drop, cover, and hold on if you’re inside,” said Pack, a retired FBI agent who now works in crisis communications. “Stay clear of buildings if you’re outside.”
Yeck said earthquakes in the eastern U.S. tend to travel farther than those to our west because the rock is older and denser, acting as a better carrier for seismic waves.
Damage does not usually occur from earthquakes until they reach a magnitude of somewhere above 4 or 5, according to experts, although it depends on variables such as building construction, soil and distance from the epicenter.
Since 1950, 15 other earthquakes of magnitude 4 or larger have occurred within 155 miles of Saturday’s earthquake. The largest of those was a magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Knoxville in November 1973.
Experts say there’s a 5% chance of an aftershock with a magnitude of 4 or larger in the next week.
Earthquakes aren’t necessarily uncommon across Georgia, or even in the CSRA.
On April 7, three earthquakes were felt in Columbia County:
- One 9.1 miles northwest of Evans at 8:01 p.m. at a depth of 10 kilometers with a magnitude of 1.8.
- One 6.8 miles north of Harlem at 8:26 p.m. with a magnitude of 1.9 and a depth of one kilometer.
- One 9.6 miles northwest of Grovetown at 11:03 p.m. with a magnitude of 1.7 and a depth of 2 kilometers.
Those came nearly a week after two earthquakes were recorded near Grovetown.
Near the epicenter of Saturday’s earthquake, Blount County Emergency Management Agency Director Lance Coleman said there were no reports of injuries or damage, but officials did get a lot of phone calls.
A Tennessee Valley Authority representative said only one dam, Fontana Dam, saw enough movement to require inspection, and no issues were found.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park said a portion of Foothills Parkway West was shut down and would remain closed until it is inspected by the Federal Highway Administration.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Mark Nagi said there were no reports of damaged roads, but officials would be inspecting bridges throughout the next few weeks as a precaution.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A 17-year-old driving a possibly stolen vehicle was critically injured Thursday after fleeing Richmond County deputies, crashing near I-520 and running into interstate traffic, authorities said.
Richmond County deputies went to the area of Barton Chapel Road and Old McDuffie Road at around 8:19 a.m. Thursday for a possible stolen vehicle described as an orange Dodge Challenger.
Deputies located the vehicle at the intersection of Barton Chapel Road and Old McDuffie Road, and as deputies attempted to turn around and make contact, the driver sped away going eastbound on Old McDuffie Road, officials said.
Deputies attempted to follow the vehicle but lost sight of it shortly thereafter.
A short time later, a deputy saw that the Challenger had crashed at the dead end of Old McDuffie Road after traveling through a private fence, authorities say.
The vehicle stopped on an embankment along the southeast shoulder of I-520 eastbound near mile marker 4, according to the sheriff’s office.
As deputies approached the vehicle, deputies said the driver ran across the eastbound lanes of I-520 into oncoming traffic, and was hit by a passing vehicle.
The impact from the first vehicle caused him to hit the windshield of a second vehicle traveling in the same direction, according to officials. He was then propelled over the center barrier wall into the westbound lanes of the interstate.
The driver was transported to Wellstar MCG by Central EMS for treatment and is listed in critical condition, the sheriff’s office said.
Georgia State Patrol has been notified and is leading the investigation into the incident. Any additional information will be released as it becomes available.
The crash shut down all lanes on the interstate for hours on Thursday morning, reopening around 11 a.m.
On Wednesday morning, Richmond County deputies responded to another “serious” crash on Barton Chapel Road, which turned out to be deadly.
According to data provided by the sheriff’s office, traffic collisions in Richmond County decreased by 3% in the past year, from 10,672 in 2024 to 10,402 in 2025.
The more significant decrease came with a 43% in traffic fatalities in the county. Fatalities dropped from 44 in 2024 to 25 in 2025.
More broadly, in Georgia, there were a total of 367,523 crashes in 2024, which is down from 374,006 in 2023, according to GDOT.
There was a total of 1,494 fatal crashes in Georgia in 2024, down from 1,666 in 2023.
GDOT says 76% of the time, fatal crashes are caused by unsafe driving behaviors, including distractions, impairment or driving too fast for conditions.
And in Nov. 2025, the sheriff’s office was one of 26 law enforcement agencies in Georgia to receive a Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic grant. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety awarded the sheriff’s office with $192,286.36.
The Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic, or H.E.A.T., program is designed to combat crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by impaired driving and speeding, while also increasing seatbelt use and educating the public about traffic safety.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Abercrombie’s Career-High 33 Lifts Augusta Past Middle Georgia in PBC Tournament Quarterfinals – Augusta University
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta opened Peach Belt Conference Tournament play with a win Wednesday, outlasting Middle Georgia 74-70 in the PBC quarterfinals atChristenberry Fieldhouse.
The Jaguars (19-9, 13-7 Peach Belt) move on to the next round of four and will travel to top-seeded Columbus State on Saturday, March 7, in Columbus, Ga.
Augusta got rolling early behind Quinasia Abercrombie, who buried a three in the opening minute and continued to set the tone offensively. The Jaguars built momentum on both ends, and Nadiyah Byard provided an instant spark off the bench with a layup late in the first quarter to help Augusta take a 16-13 lead after one.
The second quarter belonged to the Jaguars’ defense. Middle Georgia managed just six points in the period, as Augusta tightened the paint and forced tough possessions. Amari Jackson hit a pair of free throws early in the quarter and later added a layup, while Abercrombie finished the half with a strong push in transition to keep Augusta in control. The Jaguars took a 31-19 lead into halftime after holding Middle Georgia to 1-for-13 shooting in the second quarter.
Middle Georgia responded coming out of the break, but Augusta answered every push. Abercrombie knocked down a fast-break three early in the third, and Jackson followed with a layup to keep the advantage comfortable. Sa’Niah Dorsey connected from deep during the quarter, and Augusta shot 61.5 percent in the third to carry a 54-40 lead into the final 10 minutes.
The final quarter turned into a battle. Middle Georgia found rhythm offensively and closed the gap with repeated second-chance opportunities, eventually cutting it to a one-possession game in the final minute. Augusta stayed poised at the line down the stretch, with Elyse Autrey knocking down key free throws in the closing seconds to preserve the win.
Abercrombie led Augusta with a career-high 33 points, going 13-of-20 from the field and 3-of-6 from three. Jackson added 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Dorsey finished with seven points, while Autrey dished out six assists and went 5-for-6 at the free throw line.
Middle Georgia (17-11, 10-10 Peach Belt) was paced by Mauryah Jones with 20 points and Kristen Foglia with 18. The Knights also received 13 points and 15 rebounds from Kennedi Hawkins.
Wednesday’s game also featured a special atmosphere at Christenberry Fieldhouse, with the Lucy C. Laney High School Marching Band, the Pride of Augusta, providing in-game entertainment.
Augusta advances to face top-seeded Columbus State on Saturday, March 7, in Columbus, Ga.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Boxing Club is facing financial uncertainty after Richmond County’s 2026 budget left no room to fund nonprofit organizations.
The county’s decision removes one of the club’s main financial supporters, leaving the historic organization without a key source of funding.
The Augusta Boxing Club is one of the nation’s longest-running amateur boxing clubs and has served at-risk youth in the Augusta area.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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