4.0 Earthquake Shook Boston on Tuesday Night

Small tremors that lasted for several seconds were felt in the Greater Boston area after a 4.6 magnitude earthquake hit near Hollis, Maine on Tuesday night. 

The epicenter of the quake was about 92 miles from Boston.

The USGS originally reported the earthquake as a 4.5 on the Richter Scale, then upgraded it to a 4.6, before downgrading the earthquake to a 4.0. 

Multiple South End residents reported feeling the tremors in the neighborhood. 

"Yep, [in a] building on Albany Street," tweeted @bayouboston.

"Most definitely," said Mark Corbin via Facebook. See here for more reactions via social media. 

The last quake felt throughout the Boston area was a 5.9 magnitude earthquake centered in northern Virginia in August of 2011. 

Moderately damaging earthquakes strike somewhere in the region every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt roughly twice a year, according to information from the US geological survey.

Historically, the Boston area was damaged three times within 28 years in the 1700's. The largest known New England earthquakes occurred in 1638 (magnitude 6.5) in Vermont or New Hampshire, and in 1755 (magnitude 5.8) offshore from Cape Ann northeast of Boston, which caused severe damage to the Boston waterfront.

The most recent New England earthquake to cause moderate damage occurred in 1940 (magnitude 5.6) in central New Hampshire.

For more information about tectonic activity in New England, check out the US Geological Survey's information page.  

Governor Deval Patrick said in a statement on Tuesday night that there were not yet any reports of injury or damage in the state. "MEMA will continue to monitor the situation closely," he said. "Residents should use caution if they encounter any damage and take a minute to check in on neighbors, family and friends."

Did you feel the tremors? Tell us in the comments.