Creepy ‘ghost lanterns’ in South Carolina are not what they seem, study suggests

By Pandora Dewan published February 15, 2025 https://www.livescience.com/

The Summerville ghost lanterns have mystified locals for generations. But geologists may have finally cracked the case.

Summerville, South Carolina, has been haunted by mysterious “ghost lanterns” for decades. Now, a scientist thinks she’s finally worked out what the floating orbs are: Turns out, they could be linked to tiny earthquakes.

Local legends suggest the mysterious balls of light, which are often spotted near old railway tracks, are lanterns carried by the ghost of a woman who lost her husband in a train accident.

It is not clear exactly when the floating orbs were first seen in the area, but references mostly date back to the mid-20th century. The lights are described as small, glowing spheres, often in blue or green, seen floating above a narrow stretch of Sheep Island Road, where an old railway line used to run. Witnesses also reported cars shaking violently, strange whispering and, occasionally, “ghostly” apparitions.

In the surrounding area, locals have described slamming doors, the sound of footsteps, disturbed animals and birds, and objects moving as if of their own accord.

Now, Susan Hough, a seismologist for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), has extensively studied these reports and concluded that the mysterious orbs may be explained by a rare geological phenomenon known as earthquake lights.

According to USGS, earthquake lights are glowing spheres, sparks and streamers thought to occur in an area before, during or immediately after earthquakes.

“They have never been studied or confirmed systematically because virtually all of the data/observations are anecdotal, but lights during earthquakes have been reported for many years,” Hough told Live Science in an email.

One of the most widely accepted explanations for this phenomenon is the ignition of underground gases, such as methane and radon, as they seep out of the ground during increased seismic activity. All that’s needed is a spark, generated by static electricity or moving rocks.

Hough said that this explanation was particularly appropriate for the Summerville ghost. Her findings were published Jan. 22 in the journal Seismological Research Letters.