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South Salt Lake Journal

5.7 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Northern Utah

Mar 18, 2020 09:37AM ● By Justin Adams
By Justin Adams | [email protected]

Many Utah residents awoke with a jolt on Wednesday morning as they could feel their homes shaking as a result of a 5.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred at 7:09 a.m.

The earthquake's epicenter came from Magna, but reports came in from Logan to Riverton, according to a tweet from the Utah Emergency Management department. 

The earthquake was Utah's largest since a 5.9 magnitude struck in St. George in 1992.

Early reports indicated no serious damage or injuries. 

Some Utah residents turned to social media to share photos of items that had fallen off shelves in their homes or new cracks that had appeared in the structure of their home. 

In Herriman, a considerable amount of material broke off from the facade of Silver Crest Elementary School and fell to the sidewalk below.

The main earthquake was followed by several after-shocks, as well as disruption to some services as precautionary measures are put it place.

At Salt Lake City airport for example, the air traffic control tower and terminals were evacuated, causing flight delays, and possibly cancellations. 

Multiple school districts in the valley announced that school lunch pickup will not be available on Wednesday due to the earthquake. 

State officials, including University of Utah's director of seismograph stations Keith Koper, repeatedly assured that the rumor of a forthcoming 9.0 earthquake circulating on social media was false during a press conference. Koper said there was a 5% chance the 5.7-earthquake this morning was a "foreshock" portending a larger earthquake. He added those chances decrease as time goes on. 

Officials also said the fault lines located along the Wasatch Front are only capable of around a 7.5-magnitude earthquake, emphasizing that the possibility of another, larger earthquake are slim. Officials during the press conference reminded people to still be prepared, putting together 72-hour kits, create family plans, tying water heaters to the walls and foundation and getting under tables in the event of another earthquake rather than doorways.