Minor earthquake strikes Missouri Bootheel — again

Another minor earthquake has struck the Missouri Bootheel area, only two days after the last one.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 2.7 magnitude earthquake at about 2 p.m. Thursday near Malden, Missouri. The earthquake was felt in Missouri and Tennessee, according to KFVS.

A 3.6-magnitude earthquake was recorded Tuesday, felt in Caruthersville and Kennett, Missouri. Malden is only about 40 miles from Caruthersville.

This series of quakes takes place two months after another series of smaller earthquakes shook the same area around the Missouri Bootheel, centering on Caruthersville. Five earthquakes shook the area within one hour.

With increasing small earthquakes in the area, the USGS has put the probability of a magnitude 6 earthquake along the New Madrid fault above 90 percent in the next 50 years. The New Madrid seismic zone includes southeast Missouri and adjacent states, and is described as the most seismically active area east of the Rocky Mountains.

This story was originally published January 18, 2018 at 4:41 PM with the headline "Minor earthquake strikes Missouri Bootheel — again."