The quake hit around 9 a.m. local time, about 13 miles from Greenback, Tennessee, which is about 30 miles south of Knoxville, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake could be felt in parts of the Carolinas, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia and Virginia, according to early data from USGS.

A powerful 4.1 magnitude earthquake rocked east Tennessee, sending shockwaves across several states, including parts of Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, and Virginia. The quake struck near Greenback, causing light shaking but no significant damage in Knoxville.