Hundreds of people took to the streets when a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck in Virginia, spreading tremors along the East Coast. Though no major injuries or extensive damage were reported, a power plant in Virginia was shut down, and buildings and offices were evacuated as well. Cell phone service was affected by the sudden surge in phone calls that followed the quake.
Three aftershocks were recorded throughout the evening, and monuments in Washington D.C. were closed early in precaution. The Washington Monument was inspected by a helicopter and declared structurally sound, though some cracks will require minor touch-ups.
By lateTuesday evening most federal buildings and memorials were reopened, though officials took numerous precautions before approving the buildings. The U.S. Capitol was opened temporarily for employees to collect their belongings, but was then closed again for additional inspection.
“It’s one of the largest that we’ve had there,” U.S. Geological Survey Seismologist Lucy Jones said of the quake.
Here is a video from CNN news: