Washington (CNN) — An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck Tuesday in northern Virginia, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The quake, which struck at 1:51 p.m., was felt in Washington, in Richmond, Virginia, and as far away as North Carolina and New York, witnesses reported.
“It’s one of the largest that we’ve had there,” USGS seismologist Lucy Jones told CNN. Aftershocks were a concern, she said. “People should be expecting (them), especially over the next hour or two,” she added.
She said that she would expect to see “significant damage” to old, brick buildings near the epicenter. “If you’ve already got some damage, you might want to stay outside,” she said.
She also raised concern that water and gas lines may have been damaged.
“Our building was shaking the way a skyscraper isn’t supposed to shake,” said a lawyer in a high-rise in midtown Manhattan.
The quake was 3.7 miles deep and was located 83 miles southwest of Washington, the USGS said.
