Quake clears Oakhill, staff sent home

An earthquake that originated on the Ontario and Quebec border between 1 and 2 p.m. Wednesday was felt as far south as Columbus, reports the U.S. Geological Survey.

The earthquake was 5.5 in magnitude, and most phone calls reporting the quake have come from northeast Ohio, particularly Cleveland and Akron, said Mike Hansen, Ohio Seismic Network coordinator. Mahoning County employees at Oakhill Renaissance Center felt the tremor, evacuated the building, and were subsequently sent home.

“There probably will be aftershocks,” Hansen said. “But by definition, they are smaller than main shocks so there should not be anything really big coming.”

If you felt the earthquake, contact reporter Ashley Luthern at aluthern@vindy.com. Read more in Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com