A earthquake that hit Buzzards Bay Sunday morning is one of the strongest in decades to strike the area.
Initial reports put the earthquake at a 4.2 which was downgraded to a 3.6.
Geophysicist Paul Caruso — with the United States Geological Survey— says it isn’t unusual to see an earthquake in this area, but at magnitude 3.6, Sunday’s was one of the largest ever recorded.
"Since 1973, we have recorded 26 earthquakes in this area," Caruso said. "And the largest of these— that was close to this one— was a magnitude 3.7."
That occurred 26 years ago.
Caruso warned residents that we may feel smaller aftershocks for 1-to-2 weeks.
USGS reports there was no danger of a tsunami. And while it was one of the strongest on record, there was only minimal damage reported.
The majority of damage was reported in New Bedford. The Boston Globe reported that 22 residents in the city have been displaced. There were no injuries reported from the earthquake.
Mayor Jon Mitchell issued a warning Sunday about possible damage to heating system systems caused by the earthquake.
The New Bedford mayor released a video on Twitter urging residents to check their chimneys for any damage after a number of chimneys were damaged around the city.
"It's a really big deal if those chimneys are hooked up to a boiler or a burner," Mitchell said. "One way or another, they may effect the heating system, but also potentially cause a natural gas or a carbon monoxide leak."
Mitchell also urged residents to check their homes for any structural damage.
Residents around the region felt and heard the impact of the earthquake.
A U.S. Geological Survey map shows the epicenter of the earthquake in the water about a mile off Mishaum Point in Dartmouth.
Nancy Faria, who lives about seven miles from the center of the quake, says her whole house shook.
"I didn't know what was happening, I thought it was too loud for an explosion in my house," Faria said. "And then we have a lot of traffic on Sharp Street and Milton Street. And I thought this is too — much too loud for any kind of an accident or an explosion."
Faria said it felt like the earthquake lasted for a while.
"It really shook me up because, I mean, it was like something I've never heard before."
