Wednesdays Magnitude 5.7 earthquake in Utah, state's strongest since 1992
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake rocked parts of Utah, the state's strongest since 1992, ABC News reported.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 9:16 AM
A 5.7-magnitude earthquake shook Salt Lake City and its suburbs early Wednesday, sending spooked residents fleeing their homes, knocking out power for tens of thousands and closing the city's airport.
The epicenter was just southwest of Salt Lake City and about 2.8 million in the state probably felt the quake, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
There were no initial reports of major damage to buildings or injuries, said Utah Emergency Management spokesman Joe Dougherty
I know the last thing we need right now is an earthquake, but here we are, and it sounds like aftershocks are likely. The City is assessing the situation now and I’ll circle back with an update when I have it. Be safe. #utpol #slc— SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall (@slcmayor) March 18, 2020
Operations at Salt Lake City International Airport came to a halt and the control tower and concourses were evacuated, the airport tweeted. The quake also shut down the light rail service for Salt Lake City and its suburbs.
Residents reported feeling shaking across a 100-mile (160 kilometer) area, with the heaviest impact in Salt Lake County, officials said.
Some residents ran from their homes and into the streets as they felt the earthquake shake buildings for 10 to 15 seconds.
The quake knocked pictures from walls and dishes from shelves, and people reported feeling it in the neighboring states of Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming and Nevada. Gov. Gary Herbert warned people to stay away from downtown Salt Lake City while officials assess damage.
About 55,000 people lost electricity in the Salt Lake City area, said utility Rocky Mountain Power.
The road to the Salt Lake International Airport was closed and officials asked people not to head to the airport.
#FAA statement below regarding the evacuation of the air traffic control tower at @SLCairport following an earthquake this morning. pic.twitter.com/GYgdhSHHBL— The FAA (@FAANews) March 18, 2020
It was the largest earthquake to hit Utah since a 5.9 magnitude quake shook southern Utah in 1992, according to Utah Emergency Management.
Most shaking was reported in the Salt Lake County area, near the epicenter in the Salt Lake City suburb of Magna but the quake was felt 80 miles away (130 kilometers) in the Utah city of Logan.
After the initial quake struck at 7:09 am, the geological survey recorded four smaller quakes over the next 23 minutes, ranging in magnitude from 3.7 to 3.9.
It is very likely that you will feel aftershocks today.— Utah Emergency Mgmt (@UtahEmergency) March 18, 2020
A 30-year look at Utah's earthquake history + photos of today's quake
By Josh Furlong, KSL.com | Posted - Mar. 18, 2020
SALT LAKE CITY — Wednesday's 5.7 magnitude earthquake was the largest in Utah in the last 28 years.
Utah has been relatively quiet for significant earthquakes over the last 30 years, though the "big one" has loomed over Utahns' collective heads for as long as anyone can remember. Wednesday's earthquake was not the "big one," according to the University of Utah.
Interact with the map below to see the various earthquakes in the last 30 years (none lower than a 2.5 magnitude). If you can't see the map below, click here. All data collected comes from the United States Geological Survey, which tracks earthquakes around the country.
SALT LAKE CITY — Wednesday's 5.7 magnitude earthquake was the largest in Utah in the last 28 years.
Utah has been relatively quiet for significant earthquakes over the last 30 years, though the "big one" has loomed over Utahns' collective heads for as long as anyone can remember. Wednesday's earthquake was not the "big one," according to the University of Utah.
To put things in context it's important to look at the state's history. Earthquakes of large magnitudes in the state are rare; in fact, only two quakes over a 5.0 have shaken the state in the last 30 years — a 5.9 earthquake in the St. George area in 1992 and Wednesdays 5.7 earthquake near Magna.
Interact with the map below to see the various earthquakes in the last 30 years (none lower than a 2.5 magnitude). If you can't see the map below, click here. All data collected comes from the United States Geological Survey, which tracks earthquakes around the country.
Also, check out the gallery below of all the photos related to Wednesday's earthquake.
PHOTOS 56
THE EARTHQUAKE OCCURRED IN THE MINING AREA OF MAGNA
Update on Rio Tinto Kennecott after SLC earthquake
Business Wire•March 18, 2020
Rio Tinto’s Kennecott mine near Salt Lake City (SLC), Utah, was today impacted as a result of a 5.7-magnitude earthquake close to the town of Magna. All employees have been safely accounted for and evacuated from the potential risk areas. At this stage we have identified limited damage to the operation or risk to the surrounding community. A detailed inspection of the complex is currently being conducted, in conjunction with the local emergency services and Utah Department of Transportation.
As a precaution, all operations have been temporarily halted and, in line with standard procedures pre-agreed with the Utah Department of Transportation, State Road 201 has been temporarily closed while the inactive South (Magna) tailings storage facility is inspected. This is an inactive historic tailings storage facility that is stable and being actively monitored and managed, under a plan reviewed and endorsed by a panel of independent geotechnical experts and Utah’s dam regulatory authorities.
Rio Tinto Copper & Diamonds chief executive Arnaud Soirat said "The safety of our employees and wider community is our first priority and having ensured that all our employees are safe and the operations are shut, we are now working with the local emergency services and regulators to ensure the asset is safe before resuming any operations."
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200318005741/en/
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