3.6 Magnitude Maryland Earthquake Shakes DC
Posted Fri, Jul 16, 2010 by Erica Abratique
The United States Geological Survey claims that a 3.6 magnitude earthquake happened not far from Gaithersburg, Md last friday at around 5 in the morning.
Approximately 20 miles northwest of Washington was the so called Maryland earthquake's epicenter as stated by the USGS.
According to a geophysicist named Amy Vaughan who is working at the Earthquake Information Center of USGS, "this is a significant event for the region." This is because since 1974, the said earthquake was so far the area's largest and it is also the first to be recorded above 3.0 in the Richter scale during that time.
More or less than one hour after the earthquake, a certain number of more or less 5,500 people reported that they have felt the earthquake in various locations like in the state of Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, near Washington and Maryland.
According to Anne Ngunjiri of Gaithersburg, "it was very loud, like a plane flying very low. I had never felt anything like it. I jumped out of bed. All my neighbors woke up. After that happened, I thought it might be an earthquake, and was lying in bed waiting for no reply"
She was in her bed writing e-mails at her house located in Maryland, specifically in Rockville when she felt that her house was trembling, said Judy Rudolph. "My first reaction was the noise. I thought it was an explosion." she said.
According to Vaughan, except to the earthquake happened last friday, the earthquake during 1993, which was a 2.7 magnitude earthquake, was so far the largest that was recorded within the radius of 47 miles of Gaithersberg.
She also said that it was not entirely impossible for a 3.6 magnitude earthquake to hit there geologically speaking. "From time to time these things happen, even east of the Rockies, although it's not really a plate boundary where we expect earthquakes, fallas there since the continent was being formed. There are minor flaws that exist within this area."
Vaughan stated that there were no major damage to structures but replicas may be experienced by the people for the next couple of days or even weeks more after the earthquake. No injuries or damaged properties were reported according to the Washington National Security and Emergency Management.
A 1.7 magnitude earthquake during October 2007 was the last earthquake recorded before this latest earthquake last Friday on Maryland according to the website of USGS.
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