A magnitude 5.7 just shook some parts of Utah, including Salt Lake City and areas across Utah County and Salt Lake County. Aftershocks were felt across Salt Lake City. It was the largest earthquake since 1992, although there were no reports yet of major collapses.
The northeast of Magna was recorded as the epicenter, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A series of aftershocks hit shortly a maximum of magnitude being recorded. The director of the University of Utah Seismograph Stations said that more aftershocks should be expected in the days to come.
Koper called the recent earthquake a moderate size, something that could hit Utah once every 10 years and there is also a slight increase that a large earthquake would hit but it was still a "low in probability."
About 55,000 households are experiencing outages in locations spread westward from Salt Lake City and West Valley City to Magna and Station Parkin Tooele County according to Rocky Mountain Power.
Damages to homes and businesses were also reported including picture falling off the walls, dishes out of cupboards and products off of shelves. Other buildings shed bricks especially those in the downtown mission that serves the homeless; the building next to it is a construction that looks like it was also damaged by the earthquake.
Salt Lake City International Airport has shut down already after the earthquake happened, according to spokeswoman Nancy Volmer. Passengers were already evacuated from terminals and concourses and put into buses to determine where to take them. The Federal Aviation Administration control tower had been closed already and was evacuated.
Governor Gary Herbert said in his tweet that the public should avoid the downtown Salt Lake City while the crews assess the damage. Unless they are working in public safety, or are an essential employee, people should stay at home or telework until further notice from the government. Additionally, the Utah Department of Health state lab is currently down, so does the Utah coronavirus hotline so staying at home is the best option.
Social Media Response
One Facebook user wrote, "This one is the scariest things I've ever gotten through in my life," said Griffin Bonacci from Magna, 7200West and 2000 South.
South Lake Physician, Dr. Scott Williams, told ABC News that he observed his house started shaking fairly violently and his first thought was that a truck has gone off the road and is coming right through his house. It lasted for about 15, 20 seconds until he felt swaying for another 15 seconds.
Williams added that instead of doing social distancing, they now need to get together to check on each other.
Holly Rowe, ESPN reporter said in her tweet that she was "shaken out of sleep" by the earthquake. They are safe now though and asked everyone to pray for no further aftershocks.
Digital news manager at ABC Salt Lake affiliate KTVX, Kierra Dotson said that she was at the airport when the quake hit. She noted that there were no visible damages or any injuries but aftershocks can be felt.
Just like Dotson, the former co-host of ABC's "The View," Abby Huntsman, has also woken up by the 5.7 earthquake. She immediately ran to her sleeping kids and grabbed them. They also reported experiencing aftershocks.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall tweeted, "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."
The 1992 Earthquake
The last earthquake of this magnitude was recorded in St. George in 1992, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety.
The recent earthquake on Wednesday occurred in roughly the same location at the largest registering at 5.2 magnitude, said Robert Smith, a distinguished professor of geophysics at the University of Utah.
As of now, experts cannot tell yet if the earthquake that hit Utah was already or the main event or just a foreshock of something bigger.
