Earthquake Rocks U.S. Midwest
Midwest residents awoke early Friday morning by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake that rivals the strongest ever recorded in that region.
People up to 450 miles away felt the quake, which occurred just before 4:37a.m. this morning. Centered just 6 miles from West Salem, Ill., the quake was felt by residents as far as Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Des Moines, Iowa. There were no early reports of major damage or injuries.
The quake rattled skyscrapers in Chicago, 240 miles north of the epicenter, as well as in downtown Indianapolis, about 160 miles northeast. Minor damage was also reported as far away as Louisville, KY.
According to the U.S. Geologic Survey, the quake occurred in the Illinois basin-Ozark dome region which covers parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas and stretches from Indianapolis and St. Louis to Memphis. The agency’s website states that earthquakes in this region are not felt on a regular basis. The largest historical earthquake for the region (also a magnitude 5.4) was felt in 1968 in southern Illinois.
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