A magnitude 3.6 earthquake shook residents in northern Illinois and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana early Wednesday morning.

The quake struck about a mile from Standard, Illinois, some 110 miles southwest of Chicago. People as far as the shores of Lake Michigan felt the minor tremors, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, with no damage or injuries yet reported in the region.

Striking 2.85 miles underground, the earthquake was shallow, USGS spokesperson Patrick Wilson told the Chicago Sun-Times, allowing more people to feel it happening.

While Illinois is not near any major fault lines, unlike quake-prone states like California, USGS research geologist Jessica Jobe told The Associated Press that “small to moderate earthquakes can occur anywhere and anytime in the Eastern U.S.”

People living as far away as southern Wisconsin, southeastern Iowa and northwest Indiana reported that they felt the quake, the geologist said, according to AP. 

The early morning earthquake proved to be an impromptu alarm for area residents.

“Well, I woke up to an earthquake, which you don’t really think of it as such because you don’t know what you’re feeling when you’re feeling it. But it lasted about six seconds. It started out with a light tremor than a heavier one and then light tremors,” Utica, Illinois, resident Kathy Casstevens told WLS-TV.

Bill Pasulka, who lives near Standard, told the Sun-Times, “I looked at the clock when my bed shook, and it was 4:41 a.m. It felt like I had a waterbed!”

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.