“Booms” in Southeastern Connecticut Were Earthquakes

Those "booms" in southeastern Connecticut on Friday were, in fact, earthquakes, scientists say.

The Weston Observatory at Boston College said it recorded two small earthquakes near Norwich on Friday. Both earthquakes registered as 1.8 magnitude. The first, at 9:05 a.m., was centered near Ledyard, and the second, at 9:42 a.m., was centered near Montville, according to the observatory.

The U.S. Geological Survey, which records earthquakes worldwide, measured a 2.1. magnitude earthquake in Stonington at 9:05 a.m.  The exact location was listed as 3 kilometers east of Conning Towers, Nautilus Park in Groton.

Police in several southeastern Connecticut towns were flooded with calls from people who heard "booms" and thought there had been an explosion. Some people said their houses shook.

Officers were dispatched to investigate the loud noises but found nothing that would indicate an explosion or anything else out of the ordinary.

Stonington police said they had reports of at least four "booms" being heard, but the Weston Observatory only recorded two earthquakes on Friday.

According to scientists at the Weston Observatory, the earthquakes were shallow, so not only could they be felt, but they were also heard.  They could easily be mistaken as a small explosion, a spokesperson for the observatory said.

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