WASHINGTON – A strong earthquake struck the US east coast and was felt as far away as Canada yesterday, shaking buildings in many cities, delaying flights and trains and sending thousands of frightened workers into the streets. There were no reports of major damage or injuries from the 5.9 magnitude quake, which the US Geological Survey said was centred in Mineral, Virginia, at a very shallow depth of 0.6 mile (1km).
The Pentagon and the US Capitol were briefly evacuated, and thousands of panicked office workers scurried into the streets up and down the East Coast as the lunchtime quake sent items crashing to the floor from store and office shelves.
Quakes of magnitude 5.5 to 6 can cause damage to buildings and other structures, especially if shallow. The US east coast does not normally feel quakes of this strength. – (Reuters)