Officials say explosion-like noise in Girard was not earthquake

Staff report

girard

Officials said a reported explosion-like sound Wednesday did not stem from an earthquake.

Dr. Ray Beiersdorfer, Youngstown State University professor in the Department of Environmental and Geological Studies, said university seismographs did not indicate any signs of an earthquake in the area.

The United States Geological Survey seismograph, which only registers tremors of magnitude 1 or greater, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources seismic network did not indicate a quake in the region either.

According to the Lamont-Doherty Cooperative Seismographic Network, which is near Columbus, there was seismic activity about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Beiersdorfer believes that may have been caused by a magnitude-6.8 earthquake that occurred in Chile 10 minutes earlier.

Posters on the Girard community Facebook page reported hearing a large explosion and rumblings around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Police and fire crews did not report any calls for service during that time frame.

City officials said they did not plan to investigate.