Loud explosion precedes series of earthquakes in New England

© WFSB

The Weston Observatory recorded four small earthquakes in the Plainfield area on Monday morning.

Five small earthquakes rattled New England on Monday.

It was the third day in less than a week that rumbles shook the Plainfield region.

Plainfield police said they received dozens of calls about homes shaking in the Plainfield, Killingly, Brooklyn and Sterling areas. They received even more around the noon hour.

"They just started pouring in regarding a loud explosion," said Capt. Mario Arriaga, with the Plainfield Police Department. "However, this time, people were reporting earthquakes since last time we had one on the 12th."

Authorities released a few of the 911 calls they received. Police said they received well over 100 calls.

"We just had a massive earthquake again," one caller reported.

"It sounded like a bomb and everything was shaking," another caller said.

Residents in those towns also called the Eyewitness Newsroom with similar reports. They said they heard a loud explosion followed by shaking.

"The whole house started shaking, the walls like all the pictures would shake and stuff like that, it's crazy," said Elizabeth Kempesta.

Plainfield police said it happened around 6:30 a.m. Scientists from the observatory registered the largest of the four at a 3.1 magnitude. Though the U.S. Geological Survey told Eyewitness News it was 3.3.

It was felt in Rhode Island and as far away as New Bedford, MA, and Framingham, MA.

The observatory said the smaller ones were recorded at 1.1, 0.9 and 2.0. A quake around noon time registered at 1.3.

Police in Plainfield said they deployed a number of officers throughout the town to ensure the safety of residents. The town's building inspector was heading out to take a look at the foundation of at least one home. Homeowners told police that they believe there may be some damage.

"I heard the big loud bang and it woke me up in a dead sleep with the parakeets flying around the cage," said Phil Breault of Moosup.

Officers said they were working with the Plainfield Fire Marshal's Office to keep the public updated.

If anyone experienced structural damage, they are asked to contact their local building inspector.

The building inspector did go out to one Plainfield home after the homeowner thought the foundation shifted, but that wasn't the case.

Last Thursday, a 2.0-2.2-magnitude earthquake struck Plainfield, according to the National Weather Service. Homeowners reported that it was strong enough to shake picture frames off of their walls.

Others reported that it caused cracks in their walls.

On Friday, residents reported another loud boom in the form of a tremor that registered at .4.

"I was sleeping on the couch and heard a loud bang and then the house rumbled a bit," said Steven Weker, of Moosup.

When an earthquake happens, police said to not have a bed near any chimneys.

"Secure all your cabinets with child safety locks and just having a plan with your family," Arriaga said.

Police also said it is important to know how to shut off gas, electric and water supplies. Also, it is important to not panic.

While being in a vehicle during an earthquake, police said to pull over to the side of the road, but make sure to be away from any buildings.

Experts speak out about CT earthquakes

Many people in the eastern part of the state are asking why there have been so many earthquakes in such a short period of time.

"Seemed like 2, 3, 4 seconds, it could have been half a second, but it was scary," said Dean Milligan, who called the quakes quick and impactful.

John Ebel, senior research scientist at the Weston Observatory, has been tracking the recent cluster of Connecticut quakes.

"Sometimes when earthquakes happen in our part of the world - in fact, this is true in California too - we don't get just one earthquake, we get a series of small earthquakes," Ebel said. "We sometimes call these earthquakes swarms, especially if we get a lot of them."

They don't happen at the same rate as California's earthquakes, but Connecticut is no stranger to them.

"The Moodus Connecticut earthquakes take place in swarms like this. In 1983, we had a swarm of several hundred earthquakes at this level or smaller that repeated in 83 and then again in 86 and 87," Ebel said.

For those who may be concerned about the quakes getting worse, Ebel said folks should research what to do if a strong earthquake occurs, even though there is not a high probability of that happening.

"But sometimes when we have small earthquakes they are followed by larger earthquakes although most of the time that doesn't happen," Ebel said.

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