Aftershocks Rattle Indiana Following Moderate Quake

INDIANAPOLIS -- A moderate earthquake and six aftershocks rattled much of the Midwest early Friday morning, shaking all of Indiana and beyond.

The U.S. Geologic Survey reported that the first earthquake had a magnitude of 5.2. Buildings in downtown Indianapolis shook for about 15 seconds as the temblor rumbled at about 5:37 a.m.

The USGS Web site said that quake was centered near West Salem, Ill., or about 40 miles north of Evansville, Ind., along the Wabash Valley Fault Zone, which is north of the well-known New Madrid fault area.

Aftershocks hit at 11:15 a.m., 10:55 a.m., 9:46 a.m., 9:36 a.m.9:15 a.m. and 9:03 a.m. The 11:15 a.m. quake, which had a preliminary magnitude of 4.6, was felt in downtown Indianapolis and across southern Indiana. The others were too small for most people to notice.

There were no reports of major structural damage anywhere in Indiana, but the quake damaged a building in Louisville, Ky.

"We have some minor reports of glass breakage, some other minor reports of some damage to perhaps a mobile home that may have come off its foundation," said Joe Wainscott, Indiana Homeland Security director.

The Indiana Department of Transportation examined roadways and bridges in much of Indiana and found no damage.

In Indianapolis, officials took hundreds of phone calls, but Mayor Greg Ballard said homes, high-rises and the city's infrastructure appear OK.

"Utilities, DPW has coordinated with utilities and IPL, gas and water, and all the utilities seem to be OK with no damage," Ballard said. "Bridges -- DPW is working in concert with INDOT and they're checking now."

Quake Felt In Several States

The earthquake was felt far and wide, including in the Chicago area, parts of Wisconsin and Iowa.

"This is one of the larger earthquakes that you've had in a while in the region," said Randy Baldwin of the USGS.

Air traffic was grounded for about an hour at Indianapolis International Airport as the tower was evacuated. All of the runways were checked and cleared for usage.

Surveillance video from inside a Walgreens on 16th and Meridian streets, just north of downtown Indianapolis, showed the shaking.

At Vincennes University, about 30 miles east of the epicenter, all five dormitories were evacuated as a precaution, sending nearly 1,500 students to an intramural field for an hour, university spokesman Duane Chattin. The earthquake triggered the fire alarm in one residence hall, Chattin said. There was no damage or injuries reported on the campus, Chattin said.

Numerous phone calls poured into 6News from viewers to report feeling the earthquake. A moderate earthquake is capable of causing structural damage, but that damage is generally minor.

"The things on my curio were rattling and the water in the fish bowl was splashing," said Kelly Bolte, a waitress in Seymour, about 60 miles south of Indianapolis. "It felt like the dog was running through the house."

Scott Wilkerson, associate professor of geosciences at DePauw University in Greencastle, about 40 miles south Indianapolis, said he felt two episodes of shaking. He said that may represent two different seismic waves.

Earthquakes occur irregularly in the area, according to the USGS. The largest historical earthquake in the region -- a magnitude 5.5 -- caused damage in southern Illinois in 1968.