A major earthquake, hits Seattle and Washington state for 45 seconds on Thursday, 26th January, 2017, with a magnitude of 6.8. The earthquake has enough time to cause the damage of at least $1 billion, thousands of lives.
Hours after 10:54 a.m., the earthquake, was considered to cause major damage and injuries, But there was only one fatality reported, although lot of people were injured.
Local officials said, A 66 years old woman from Burein, a Seattle suburb near the airport, died of a heart attack, marking the first confirmed fatality after the temblor. But, the earlier reports, identified the victim as a man. Immediately, no other details were available.
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Seattle officials said, about 25 people were being treated in local hospitals for injuries, and four of them were in serious condition, after being crushed in debris. In addition to this, hospitals in Olympia were treating 35 people.
The temblor, was also felt in the near by cities, such as Vancouver, British Columbia, Portland and Oregon.
Washington state Gov. Gary Locke, declared a state of emergency, estimating the damage to roads and buildings, in the billions of dollars. Ex-President George W. Bush, vowed to provide, as much help as he could.
Locke said, the damage was primarily structural. The governor’s mansion and Capitol building in Olympia sustained heavy damage.
Locke said, the damage could top $1 billion, while returning from a helicopter tour of the Puget Sound area. Locke said, “There definitely would have been a lot , lot more damage, if the quake had been centered closer to the surface”
The earthquake, sent the masonry from Seattle skyscrapers falling to the ground, and knocked out the power lines, serving about 200,000 people, mainly in Olympia and near by towns of Lacey, Tumwater and DuPont.
Geological Survey, first reported the earthquake measured 7.0, and then reduced that figure to 6.8, a size of quake, that still carries potential for major damage.
The earth quake’s substantial depth, estimated at about 30 miles, helped to limit the damage. Earthquakes in California, cause more damage, as they usually take places, closer to the surface.
Seattle sits on a fault, caused by the Juan de Fuca plate, sliding the continental United States.
By Mrudula.
