Small earthquake shakes southern Piedmont

There were no reports of injuries or damage early today from Thursday night's earthquake.

The temblor with a magnitude of 3.2 was recorded about 10:30 p.m., said John Minsch with the National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo. The epicenter was located about 20 miles north of Charlotte, Minsch said.

A quake of magnitude 2.5 to 3 is the smallest generally felt by people. A quake of magnitude 4 often causes slight damage.

``The size of the earthquake is probably too small to cause any appreciable damage at all,'' Minsch said.

Officer Dane Laney of the Davidson College Police Department said he felt something shake while on duty late Thursday but couldn't figure out what it was.

``There was some kind of explosion. We went out to investigate,'' Laney said. ``It shook the foundation of the building I was in at the time.''

In Mooresville, about 5 miles north of Davidson, police dispatchers received calls from nervous residents.

``They said it was loud and shook their houses,'' said Mooresville Police Officer Rhonda Faust.

Small earthquakes are not uncommon in western North Carolina.

(Copyright 1998 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)