Earthquake
5.6 quake hits near Alum Rock, only minor damage reported The temblor lasted about 30 seconds and was a magnitude 5.6 quake, according to a preliminary estimate from the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter was five miles miles from Alum Rock, seven miles from Milpitas and nine miles from San Jose City Hall with the earthquake originating 5.7 miles below ground. Shaking was felt throughout the Bay Area. Ten aftershocks with magnitudes of 1.3 to 1.8 were reported by 8:45 p.m. There were no immediate reports of major damage, though cellular and landline telephone service failed for a time in some areas. The quake shook a metal garbage can into a car parked on the street and at 350 North 2nd a water pipe broke, streaming water into the parking garage of a condo building. "At first I thought it was a train," said David Eaton, who lives in the building. "But it went on way too long. And then I heard things starting to fall and I knew it wasn't the train." Although it was Eaton's first big earthquake, he was prepared. He stood outside of his building with his two dogs, carrying a flashlight and other emergency equipment. "This building is only two years old but it really shook," he said. Down the street near a VTA bus stop driver Christopher Archuleta stood outside of his line 23 bus with a big smile. "That was fun," he said shaking his head. He had been driving when the wheel started to shake and then bus started to sway. Two of his passengers told him it was their first earthquake. He said the girls seemed nervous and were unable to get their AT&T cellular phone to work, but were able to borrow another passenger's cell phone to let their friends know they were OK. In Cupertino, Vishram Dalvi said that his "entire house shook, pictures swayed, a few things fell off. We ran downstairs with the children but everything stopped. I am worried with what they say about the big one being long overdue now- was it every 140 years?" In Palo Alto, one resident described the earthquake as feeling as if a "big rolling freight train just went through my backyard." Within minutes, fire stations in Palo Alto reported in to the dispatch center that there was no damage to their stations.
A moderate, but powerful earthquake struck San Jose just after 8 p.m. tonight, shaking buildings and prompting rattled residents to pour out of their homes.
On the north end of San Jose's downtown, shaken residents left apartments, condos and homes to survey the damage. Luckily it was minor.
No comments:
Post a Comment