US seismologists: At least 7 aftershocks registered after East Coast quake; more likely

RICHMOND, Va. — The 5.8-magnitude earthquake that rattled the East Coast this week has produced at least seven aftershocks.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the aftershocks around the central Virginia epicenter ranged in magnitude from 4.5 to as little as 2.2, following the strongest earthquake to strike the East Coast since World War II. Two of them hit early Thursday.

When the number of aftershocks was still at five, geophysicist Amy Vaughan with the National Earthquake Information Center in Colorado, said the aftershocks so far had been remarkably few.

Vaughan said the agency isn’t sure what to expect, but it’s likely there will be some more for days, if not weeks. Typically, the larger the quake, the longer and the greater extent of aftershocks.

By Associated Press, Published: August 25