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The largest earthquake to hit Utah since 1992, a 5.7 magnitude rumbler, rocked the state on Wednesday morning. In a natural disaster sure to increase homeowner insurance rates, regions all along the Wasatch Front felt the quake. Aftershocks, some measuring as high as 4.4 magnitude, continued after the quake hit.
While the world grapples with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Utah is grappling with the cleanup from a “moderately sized” earthquake that woke many Wednesday morning.
The quake caused damage to the Salt Lake Temple, dislodging the Moroni statue’s trumpet. Elsewhere, the quake damaged buildings in downtown Salt Lake City and at the Salt Lake City International Airport.
According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter of the quake was just northeast of Magna, Utah. According to experts, there will likely be hundreds of smaller aftershocks, which could continue for weeks to come.
Keith Koper, director of the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, spoke to reporters Wednesday morning to discuss the quake.
“This was a big earthquake for us,” Koper stated, telling reporters that such a “moderate” quake often hits Utah once every ten years or so. Thankfully, Koper thinks that an even larger quake has a “low probability” of hitting Utah anytime soon.
We’ll take all the good news we can get!
Early reports hold that roughly 55,000 customers from Salt Lake City and into West Valley City, Magna and Station Park are all without power now. Likewise, numerous people in the region have stated that their homes and businesses have suffered damages from the large-scale shaking. Many buildings lost bricks, suffered structural damage and saw cracks or holes form due to the earthquake.
Many homeowners’ personal belongings suffered damage and destruction, too. Televisions fell from stands or off of walls, dishes flew from cupboards and shattered, furniture overturned and broke.
Salt Lake City International Airport sustained damage that caused the airport to shut down Wednesday morning. As one could imagine, this is the last thing an airport needs during a pandemic.
Ironically, this earthquake couldn’t have occurred at a worse time. Cities all over the world are grappling with the ever-spreading COVID-19 disease, caused by a novel coronavirus.
The damage to the airport, in particular, will likely be a knockout blow for airlines and the airport alike, as they struggle to stay afloat amid the numerous travel disruptions and advisories involving flying during the global pandemic.
