MANHATTAN – The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is reporting that a magnitude 4.0 earthquake was recorded almost two miles northwest of Manhattan, in the Bozeman-Belgrade area, around 8 p.m. Saturday night.
The quake hit nearly 4 miles below ground. According to USGS, the “green alert” associated with the number of economic losses and shaking-related fatalities associated with the quake means a “low likelihood of casualties and damage.”
The community of Manhattan — which has a population of just over 1,700 — was hit with a shaking intensity classified as “light” via the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale.
Nearby Three Forks also saw “light” intensity. Belgrade, Bozeman and Livingston fell within the “weak” shake intensity category, per USGS data.
A report issued after the earthquake by USGS explicitly states the earthquake hit within an area where structures are predominantly “resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist.”
The USGS report also notes that recent area earthquakes have “caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.”
No reports of damage or injury have been confirmed. MTN News will provide updated information on any damages caused by the earthquake as they are reported.
