A magnitude 4.3 earthquake centered 48 miles WNW of Chicago reportedly struck early this morning.
According to the
U.S. Geological Survey the tremor was centered in Virgil, Illinois about an hour outside of Chicago.
The quake took place at a depth around 3 miles below ground.
The ground shook around 4 a.m.
Nbcchicago.com reports that residents felt their beds, furniture and homes shake for several seconds.
Chicagotribune.com reports the quake was felt over a wide area, but there were no immediate reports of damage.
A man living about 70 miles northwest of Chicago told
cnn.com that the earthquake shook him out of bed and caused a 1-foot crack in his kitchen wall.
USGS geophysicist Amy Vaughan says such quakes are rare in northern Illinois. She says the agency received reports from Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana about feeling the ground shake.
Sheriff's dispatchers near the epicenter in Kane County say they were flooded with calls from startled residents.
Residents also reported finding books and tools scattered across the floor.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
