A powerful 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Salt Lake City around the town of Magna, Utah this morning. According to Utah Emergency Management, today’s quake is the largest earthquake to strike the state since a 5.9 hit southern portions of the state in 1992. According to the USGS, there have been more than 8 magnitude 3.0 aftershocks and more are likely. The USGS aftershock forecast also warns of a small change of a larger quake: “there is a 6% chance of one or more aftershocks that are larger than magnitude 5.7.”
Photographs and video being shared online show heavy damage in and around Salt Lake City. Utah Governor Gary Herbert said that the Utah Department of Health State Lab is “assessing damage and is currently down.” He also adds that the poison control center has been evacuated, shutting down the Utah Coronavirus hotline in the process.
Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) is also reporting damage, with pipes bursting and flooding portions of the passenger terminal.
There are no reports of deaths at this time.
