Minor earthquake strikes southeastern Mass. Thursday

(AP) – A minor earthquake has struck southeastern Massachusetts, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

John Ebel, a senior research scientist at Boston College’s Weston Observatory, said the 1.9 magnitude earthquake struck seven miles north-northwest of New Bedford just before 11 a.m. Thursday.

Ebel, a professor of geophysics at BC, says residents of the area probably heard a boom and a few seconds of shaking.

He says earthquakes in the region are “not unusual.”

As for a possible follow-up temblor, he’s says that is unpredictable.