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Strong quake hits Pacific Northwest
No injuries reportedSEATTLE, Washington (CNN) -- A strong earthquake shook the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday, shattering windows in downtown Seattle and rattling Portland, Oregon, for nearly half a minute. There was no immediate word of injuries. The quake, estimated at a preliminary magnitude of 7.0, hit at approximately 10:55 a.m., according to federal officials at the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska.
Seismologists at the University of Washington said the epicenter of the quake was 11 miles northeast of Olympia, about 30 miles southwest of Seattle. Dan Williams of Seattle City Light said 17,000 customers were without electricity in the aftermath of the jolt. The quake was felt as far away as Salt Lake City, Utah. In downtown Portland, office buildings swayed for 20 to 30 seconds, and local television stations were deluged by calls from viewers reporting rolling motion across the area. In Seattle, local television stations showed pictures of the collapsed wall of a building and other images showing people standing outside after evacuating buildings. . The Federal Aviation Administration closed Seattle-Tacoma International Airport following the jolt, saying the facility's control tower had been damaged. RELATED STORIES:
Moderate quake hits Southern California RELATED SITES:
West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center |
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