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Earthquake leaves Washington schools and monuments shut | Earthquake leaves Washington schools and monuments shut |
(40 minutes later) | |
A day after an earthquake rattled the US east coast, Washington schools remained closed and inspectors are assessing damage to national monuments. | A day after an earthquake rattled the US east coast, Washington schools remained closed and inspectors are assessing damage to national monuments. |
The magnitude-5.8 quake, which some people initially feared was a terrorist attack, caused no known deaths or serious injuries. | The magnitude-5.8 quake, which some people initially feared was a terrorist attack, caused no known deaths or serious injuries. |
Engineers have been studying cracks in the Washington Monument, and some federal office buildings are shut. | |
The quake centred on the state of Virginia but was felt widely. | The quake centred on the state of Virginia but was felt widely. |
It was one of the most powerful tremors to hit the US east coast since 1897. | It was one of the most powerful tremors to hit the US east coast since 1897. |
High-rise fright | |
The quake shook Washington DC for about 30 seconds at lunchtime on Tuesday, with the White House, Pentagon and Capitol buildings among sites evacuated across the city. | The quake shook Washington DC for about 30 seconds at lunchtime on Tuesday, with the White House, Pentagon and Capitol buildings among sites evacuated across the city. |
In New York City, the tremor sent many people fleeing high-rises such as the Empire State Building. | |
"I ran down all 60 flights," accounting office worker Caitlin Trupiano said. "I wasn't waiting for the elevator." | |
One of the most damaged buildings in the US capital was Washington's century-old National Cathedral: three capstones broke off and cracks appeared in some walls. | |
Pictures posted on the cathedral's website showed the extent of the damage, including fallen statues. | |
"Experts are tirelessly working to assess the building damage, both structurally and aesthetically," the cathedral managers said. | "Experts are tirelessly working to assess the building damage, both structurally and aesthetically," the cathedral managers said. |
At the Washington Monument, the obelisk-shaped memorial to America's first president, engineers discovered cracks in the stones at the top. | At the Washington Monument, the obelisk-shaped memorial to America's first president, engineers discovered cracks in the stones at the top. |
They are evaluating how to repair the monument so it can be reopened to tourists. | They are evaluating how to repair the monument so it can be reopened to tourists. |
Just two days after the start of the academic year, 126 Washington school buildings were closed on Wednesday. | Just two days after the start of the academic year, 126 Washington school buildings were closed on Wednesday. |
Poking fun | |
DC Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson said the sites were being examined by structural engineers. | DC Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson said the sites were being examined by structural engineers. |
A handful of federal buildings were also shut on Wednesday, including some offices of the homeland security, agriculture and interior departments. | |
Some residents of apartments in the Washington DC suburbs were staying in shelters awaiting structural surveys at those buildings. | |
Two nuclear reactors were taken offline as a precaution near the epicentre of the quake, but no damage was reported. | |
The fuss generated by the relatively mild tremor has prompted some teasing, not least over on the west coast in California, where such events are much more common. | |
Images of toppled lawn chairs and wonky picture frames href="http://i.imgur.com/7kDXs.jpg" >were posted on social networks. | |
The earthquake that devastated Japan in March released 60,000 times more energy than Tuesday's in the US. | |
It struck some 84 miles (135km) south-west of Washington, at a depth of 3.7 miles. | |
The epicentre was near the town of Mineral, in the state of Virginia, the US Geological Survey said. | |
Three aftershocks were recorded on Tuesday, measuring from 2.2 to 4.8 in magnitude. | Three aftershocks were recorded on Tuesday, measuring from 2.2 to 4.8 in magnitude. |