A 3.4 magnitude earthquake centered in Jackson County, Ohio, caused minor shaking this morning in Huntington, Ironton, Proctorville and Ashland, according reports received at the U.S. Geological Survey.

The agency states the quake occurred at 9:42 a.m. It was centered in Oak Hill, Ohio. The depth was measured at 3.1 miles. The Jackson County town is located approximately 50 miles north of Huntington.

Staffers at the nearby Gallia County 911 center thought a vehicle had hit their building and ran outside. Center director Steve Wilson says they quickly received 170 calls from rattled residents.

No structural damage was reported.

Several people called Mason County 911. The dispatcher said those callers felt the earth shake and inquired if an explosion had occurred in the county.

Boyd County 911 received one call. The person reported a slight rumble. No such calls were received by emergency dispatchers working in Cabell, Wayne and Lawrence (Ohio) counties.

The USGS received reports of weak to light shaking along the Ohio and Big Sandy rivers in Ironton, Proctorville, Ashland and surrounding areas in Ohio and Kentucky.

The USGS received one report of weak shaking from the 25705 zip code, which covers areas in and near Huntington.

The USGS received 124 reports from Gallipolis, Ohio, and 29 from Point Pleasant, W.Va.

Locally, the last significant earthquake experience occurred April 18, 2008. It was a 5.2 magnitude quake centered in southern Illinois. It was felt by dispatchers in Huntington, Kenova and Ironton between 5:30 a.m. and 6:15 a.m.

Michael Hansen, coordinator of the Ohio Seismic Network, says the network has received about 300 e-mails from people who felt the quake. There were no reports of damage.

Earthquakes are rare in the area, but Cabell County's new 911 center has a seismic rating for a minor earthquake.