Earthquake swarm detected at Mount Rainier, biggest since 2009
Over 200 earthquakes have been detected around Mount Rainier, Washington, raising eyebrows during the biggest swarm of tremors in nearly two decades.
Mount Rainier is pictured Sept. 21, 2023, at Mount Rainier National Park, from Sunrise, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)
Hundreds of small earthquakes have rattled Mount Rainier this week in the largest swarm of tremors in more than a decade. But experts say there’s no need to panic—at least not yet.
"Currently, there is no indication that the level of earthquake activity is cause for concern," the USGS explained. "Earthquakes are too small to be felt at the surface and will likely continue for several days. There would be no damage caused by such small events."
Swarms are clusters of earthquakes that happen in rapid succession, sometimes just minutes apart.
As of Thursday morning, over 300 small earthquakes had been detected around Mount Rainier, the largest of which was magnitude 2.3.
"Right now, this swarm is still within what we consider normal background levels of activity at Mount Rainier," the USGS said. "Based on our observations, we think the most likely cause of the earthquakes is water moving around the crust above the magma chamber."
Mount Rainier is an active volcano, although the most recent major eruption was 500 to 600 years ago.
"The volcano is not 'due' for an eruption, and we do not see any signs of a potential eruption at this time," the USGS explained.
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