Earthquake blog: Updates from Utah's 5.7 quake that rocked Salt Lake and the Wasatch Front

Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes

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SALT LAKE CITY — The strongest earthquake to hit Utah in 28 years rocked the state just after 7 a.m. Wednesday.

The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the 5.7 magnitude quake hit just northeast of Magna about 7:09 a.m.

No deaths have been reported as a result of the earthquake, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said in a news conference. Various gas leaks and instances of building damage have been reported, she said.

You can watch the news conference at the 10:55 mark below:

A second 3.7 magnitude aftershock hit about 7:15 a.m., according to the USGS, and another 3.5 magnitude aftershock hit shortly thereafter. Dozens of aftershocks happened throughout the day, the largest being a 4.6 magnitude that hit shortly after 1 p.m.

Rumors of a bigger earthquake coming later Wednesday are untrue, according to Utah emergency officials. In 95% of earthquakes, the first quake is the strongest, according to the Utah Division of Emergency Management.

Salt Lake County officials are currently asking people to stay off the roads and stay home if possible.

The latest updates on Wednesday's earthquake will be posted below. If you're on a mobile device and can't see the updates, click on this link.

Updates are also available over the airwaves via KSL NewsRadio, 102.7 FM or 1160 AM, or via KSL 5 TV.

Wednesday, 09:53pm

1,378 still without power in downtown Salt Lake City after quake

Updated 9:45 pm: Crews continue to work to restore power to all customers affected by today’s earthquake. For the latest updates, please visit https://t.co/5KJ7zd0MQ1. We thank you for your patience.
— Rocky Mountain Power UT (@RMP_Utah) March 19, 2020

Wednesday, 09:44pm

Red Cross offers resources to Utahns impacted by earthquake

If you were directly affected by the earthquake you can either go to the Evacuation Center at Taylorsville High School tomorrow after 8 am or call 1-800-REDCROSS. #UtahRedCross #UtahEarthquake
— American Red Cross of Utah (@RedCrossUtah) March 19, 2020

With the continuation of aftershocks and the possibility of additional earthquake activity, the Red Cross offers safety tips via our Earthquake Mobile App available for free download https://t.co/9WYQU7V3s5

Stay up-to-date by following us on social: https://t.co/BOmzvyzQdj

— American Red Cross of Utah (@RedCrossUtah) March 19, 2020

Wednesday, 07:51pm

Gov. Herbert shares message of resilience as many Utahns feel ‘rattled’ by quake, virus

In the wake of a 5.7 earthquake in Magna on Wednesday morning, and ongoing COVID-19 fears, Gov. Gary Herbert reminded Utahns they are resilient and will overcome these trying times. “You didn’t need to feel the earth shake this morning or the numerous aftershocks that have followed in order to feel a little bit rattled,” Herbert said. “Rattled probably describes how many of us have felt as we have tried to understand the threat posed by the coronavirus that is beginning to emerge in our state,” he continued. “These are indeed challenging times. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the course of my tenure in office, is that Utahns are resilient and courageous in the face of life’s challenges,” he added. Listen to Herbert’s entire message here.

Wednesday, 07:34pm

90 aftershocks reported as of 4:30 p.m., experts report

Of the 90 aftershocks on Wednesday, 43 were 2.5 or greater with the largest was being 4.6, Utah Geological Survey reported. Photos of the damage can be found here.

This 3-D representation shows earthquake locations of the 03/18/20, Magna sequence. The largest circle is the magnitude 5.7 main shock, at a depth of about 7.5 miles (12 km), and the other circles are aftershocks that had occurred through 1:30 pm MDT.https://t.co/5YuwS7G8Rm pic.twitter.com/uPDuoiRX3l
— Utah Geological (@utahgeological) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 05:33pm

UTA trains on regular routes, with some delays expected while getting back on schedule

#TRAX Alert 5:16 pm: All trains are now running their regular routes at regular speeds. Delays can be expected as we get on schedule.
— UTA (@RideUTA) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 04:33pm

Salt Lake County Emergency Coordination Center fully activated; call 911 for emergencies, 211 for questions

If you find yourself in need of shelter, Taylorsville High School (5225 S Redwood Rd, Taylorsville, UT 84123) is available at this time. Please call the 2-1-1 line if you have questions. DO NOT call 9-1-1 for non-emergencies.
— SLCo Emergency Mngt. (@SLCoEmerMngt) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 04:16pm

State's historic artifacts survive earthquake, Utah Department of Heritage & Arts says

The historic artifacts made it through with only a couples of bumps and spills.
— Utah Department of Heritage & Arts (@UTHeritageArts) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 04:13pm

UDOH COVID-19 testing lab reopens after earthquake shut it down

The Utah Public Health Laboratory has been inspected and cleared to resume operations. #COVID19 testing will resume at the lab tomorrow morning.
— Utah Dept. of Health (@UtahDepOfHealth) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 03:55pm

Salt Lake City and South Salt Lake City declare emergencies due to earthquake

Both Salt Lake City and South Salt Lake City have declared emergencies so the cities can better respond to the needs of citizens in the aftermath of the earthquake that hit Utah on Wednesday morning. “Signing this declaration will help us to ensure that Salt Lake City is able to access both state and federal funding that we might need in the wake of today’s earthquakes,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said. South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood added, “It is the role of the City to keep our residents safe and healthy. This action will allow us to waive some procedural and purchasing requirements that give us the ability to acquire supplies and make decisions that protect our community.”

Wednesday, 03:34pm

Flights departing from Salt Lake International Airport again

The first flight to depart the Salt Lake International Airport, which was headed to Dallas-Fort Worth, left the airport at 2:54 p.m., according to airport officials. The airport had previously been closed due to Wednesday morning's earthquake. A tower was damaged, and there was some flooding in a concourse due to the quake. The facilities were found to be safe, and passengers began moving through the airport again about 1:15 p.m., airport officials said on Twitter. Flights that were diverted will be arriving soon, the airport said.

First flight has departed from SLC to DFW at 2:54 p.m. Flights that were diverted will be arriving soon. Check with your airline regarding possible cancellations or delays.
— SaltLakeCityAirport (@slcairport) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 03:19pm

Authorities release more details on Kennecott hydrochloric acid spill

Officials say there is no risk to the public after about 8,200 gallons of hydrochloric acid leaked from a tank at a Kennecott facility in Magna following Wednesday morning's earthquake. The spill occurred at Kennecott's refinery, not at the Bingham Canyon Mine, according to Rio Tinto Kennecott spokesman Kyle Bennett. It was confined to the facility and did not impact public safety, authorities said. All employees were evacuated from the refinery after the spill as a precautionary measure, according to Bennett. There is no timeframe in place for when the refinery will resume operations, he said.

Wednesday, 02:48pm

Jolted awake: Magna declares emergency in wake of earthquake

The 5.7 magnitude earthquake sent shockwaves throughout the Wasatch Front, but in Magna, located near the epicenter, the largest temblor in Utah in 28 years has led to a state of emergency declaration. Residents the town on the west edge of Salt Lake County woke up to the most intense rattling — many residents reporting household pictures and other items falling off walls and shelves — and widespread damage on Main Street, with some older buildings severely damaged, and some home evacuations.

Wednesday, 02:48pm

Number of Utahns without power due to earthquake down to about 6K

At one point after Wednesday's earthquake struck Utah, nearly 75,000 people were being affected by power outages, but the number of people without power is now about 5,700, according to Rocky Mountain Power. Crews have been working on the outages and hope to have power restored to all customers by Wednesday evening, the company tweeted.

Wednesday, 02:20pm

Chemical spill at Kennecott facility contained with no risk to public, authorities say

About 8,200 gallons of hydrochloric acid leaked from a tank at a Kennecott facility in Magna following Wednesday morning's earthquake. Unified Fire Authority Chief Dan Petersen said most of the chemical, which leaked out of a 12,000-gallon tank, was contained to a catch basin in the facility. It was fully contained within the Kennecott building, he said. Officials were concerned that the chemical would mix with another chemical and become more hazardous, but that was not the case Wednesday, Petersen said. A chemical plume dissipated from the facility but was flowing north over the Great Salt Lake and did not impact the public, Petersen said. UFA crews have turned the scene back over to Kennecott personnel, but six hazmat crews were remaining at the scene to monitor the situation, he added. State Route 201 will be closed in the area as crews continue cleaning up the spill.

Wednesday, 02:20pm

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson declares emergency due to earthquake

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson has declared a state of emergency due to the earthquake that struck the county early Wednesday morning.

We are getting a new update — Mayor Wilson has declared a public emergency in light of today’s earthquake. https://t.co/Z0wpb0UwWZ pic.twitter.com/yd1LaiKvKR
— Salt Lake County (@SLCoGov) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 02:20pm

Some courts closed due to earthquake

Utah 3rd District Courts in Summit, Salt Lake, and Tooele counties have been closed for the rest of the day due to Wednesday's earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. 2nd District Courts in Weber, Davis and Morgan counties also have been closed for the day, according to Utah State Courts spokesman Geoffrey Fattah.

Wednesday, 01:23pm

Magnitude 4.6 aftershock strikes — largest since initial earthquake

Another aftershock, preliminarily recorded as magnitude 4.6 by the U.S. Geological Survey, struck Utah about 1:12 p.m. Wednesday. That's the strongest aftershock that has been recorded after Wednesday morning's initial 5.7 magnitude earthquake. The USGS has recorded 42 total earthquakes and aftershocks in Utah as of 1:20 p.m Wednesday.

Wednesday, 01:11pm

Magna declares state of emergency

Magna Metro Township has declared a state of emergency after a 5.7 earthquake struck Wednesday morning. Mayor Pro-Tempore Trish Hull signed the declaration which states "this earthquake has caused damages to property and displaced residents in the municipality."

Wednesday, 12:45pm

A 30-year look at Utah's earthquake history

Utah has been relatively quiet for significant earthquakes over the last 30 years, though the "big one" has loomed over Utahns' collective heads for as long as anyone can remember. Wednesday's 5.7 earthquake was not the "big one," according to the University of Utah. To put things in context it's important to look at the state's history. Check out our interactive map to see the various earthquakes in the last 30 years (none lower than a 2.5 magnitude).

Wednesday, 12:44pm

Most United States Postal Service offices reopened

All USPS offices impacted by Wednesday morning's earthquake have reopened, according to the postal service. The Salt Lake City Main Post Office, located at 1760 W. 2100 S., had not been reopened as of 12:40 p.m.

All of @USPS Offices impacted by the #utquake have reopened except SLC Main Post Office at 1760 W. 2100 South. West Valley, Mill Creek and Magna had delayed openings. All carriers are on the street and mail will be delivered. @ksl5tv @KUTV2News @ktvx @SaltLakeTribBRK @DeseretNews
— USPS Utah (@USPS_Utah) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 12:03pm

University of Utah Marriott Library open as a shelter facility for U. students, staff affected by earthquake

The Marriott Library is open as a shelter facility for @UUtah It is only open to U students, staff, & faculty. Use the level 1 entrance. We encourage all to follow public safety recommendations to stay home and shelter in place if possible.https://t.co/TK22aBOk9z
— Univ of Utah News (@UofUNews) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 12:02pm

Salt Lake County Mayor: Stay off roads, shelter-in-place if possible

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said people should stay off roads and shelter-in-place if possible due to Wednesday morning's earthquake. No fatalities have been reported as a result of the quake, Wilson said at a press conference Wednesday morning. Some leaking gas lines and damaged buildings have been reported, however, she added. Rumors that a larger, stronger earthquake is coming within the next two hours are not true, according to Salt Lake County Emergency Manager Clint Mecham. It is not possible to predict earthquakes, and in the vast majority of earthquake events, the first quake is the strongest, he said. Unified Fire Authority Chief Dan Petersen said crews are working a hazmat incident at a Kennecott warehouse in Magna. Some chemicals leaked from the warehouse, Petersen said. A chemical plume was being released into the air, but it is going up vertically and not into any populated areas, he said. There were no evacuations at the Kennecott warehouse, Petersen added.

Wednesday, 12:01pm

Vans being sent to TRAX stations to pick up stranded transit passengers

Utah Transit Authority is sending vans to TRAX stations to pick up stranded passengers. All TRAX services have been halted indefinitely as officials inspect train track lines for damage from Wednesday's earthquakes. TRAX trains pulled into the nearest stations and dropped off passengers. All FrontRunner trains are currently running at reduced speeds, the agency said. Passengers are advised to plan extra times for their commutes.

#TRAX Alert: 9:58 AM: Due to the earthquake and the after shocks ALL TRAX trains are halting service until further notice. Currently unsure when TRAX service will resume. Vans are being sent out to pick up customers, who are stranded at stations, to get them where they need to go
— UTA (@RideUTA) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 11:59am

University of Utah canceling online classes due to earthquake

Classes have been canceled at the University of Utah due to Wednesday's earthquake.

U of U ALERT: Classes cancelled due to earthquake. Details at https://t.co/paCiWmVeD9.
— University of Utah (@UUtah) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 11:56am

Utah Department of Health sets up temporary COVID-19 hotline

The Utah Department of Health's coronavirus hotline is temporarily down due to Wednesday morning's earthquake, so a temporary replacement has been set up at 1-844-442-5224.

A temporary COVID-19 Information Line is available at 1-844-442-5224. Please use this number if you have questions about COVID-19 until further notice.
— Utah Dept. of Health (@UtahDepOfHealth) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 11:53am

Nearly 40K still without power due to earthquake

Rocky Mountain Power reports there are still nearly 40,000 Utahns still without power as of 9:45 a.m. The residents affected are mostly in Salt Lake County and lost power due to Wednesday's earthquake.

Wednesday, 11:03am

Earthquakes cannot be predicted, authorities say

Earthquakes cannot be predicted, according to the Utah Department of Emergency Management. The agency added that while earthquakes cannot be predicted, officials expect the 5.7-magnitude initial quake to be the largest of the sequence. That is the case in 95% of earthquakes, the agency said.

#Rumorstop

There are rumors out there that earthquakes can be predicted.

They cannot be predicted, however, we expect that the earthquake we felt today was the largest one of the sequence. That is true in 95% of earthquakes.#utquake
— Utah Emergency Mgmt (@UtahEmergency) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 11:02am

Utahns asked to limit travel and shelter-in-place if possible due to earthquake

Utahns are being asked to limit travel and shelter-in-place if possible due to Wednesday morning's earthquake, according to a public safety alert that was sent out to mobile devices in the area. Multiple agencies are coordinating the earthquake response and damage is being assessed. All areas that were possibly impacted are currently being monitored, the alert said.

Wednesday, 11:01am

4.4-magnitude shake classified as separate earthquake, not aftershock

A 4.4-magnitude earthquake that struck near Magna, Utah about 8:02 a.m. Wednesday has been classified as a second, separate earthquake, not an aftershock to the first 5.7-magnitude quake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. As of 9:25 a.m., the USGS has recorded 27 earthquakes and aftershocks in the area.

Wednesday, 11:00am

Church: Salt Lake Temple sustains minor damage

The Salt Lake Temple sustained some minor damage, including the Angel Moroni statue atop the building losing his trumpet, due to Wednesday's earthquake, according to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A church spokesman issued the following statement Wednesday morning: "The Salt Lake Temple, which is undergoing a seismic upgrade, sustained some minor damage during Wednesday morning's earthquake. The trumpet on the Angel Moroni statue fell off, and there is minor displacement of some of the temple's smaller spire stones. No workers were injured. Crews on the job site have been sent home for the day, and a full assessment is underway to determine needs going forward. This event emphasizes why this project is so necessary to preserve this historic building and create a safer environment for all our patrons and visitors."

Wednesday, 10:41am

Angel Moroni atop Salt Lake Temple damaged

The Angel Moroni figure on the top of the Salt Lake Temple was damaged Wednesday, presumably due to the earthquake. Photos from Temple Square show the angel has lost his trumpet.

Breaking: trumpet from angel Moroni on top #slc temple knocked out. #earthquake? @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/Y3avFltUsn
— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) March 18, 2020

Better view from the other side. The view from Chopper 5 above me shows the trumpet is lying on the roof. #utquake #utahearthquake #churchofjesuschrist pic.twitter.com/2NuVBvYuc8
— Mary Richards (@kslmrichards) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 10:41am

Authorities advise Utahns to prepare for more earthquake aftershocks

#Prepare now for more aftershocks. Know what to do if the shaking starts again. DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON. Get under something sturdy or at least to an inner wall away from windows. See here for more info: https://t.co/alRVngB51h pic.twitter.com/M9jLPGCLP7
— Be Ready Utah (@BeReadyUtah) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 10:17am

Prepare for earthquake by putting on shoes, keeping flashlight near bed

#Prepare for more #earthquakes: Do something simple RIGHT NOW. Put a pair of shoes and a flashlight next to your bed. If you are home for social distancing, practice DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON with your family. For more info see here: https://t.co/alRVngB51h pic.twitter.com/c9Hf4QVSkv
— Be Ready Utah (@BeReadyUtah) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 10:05am

Photos show significant damage in Magna home

We are getting our first pictures in from #Magna. These were sent to us by Taylor Kilgrow. #utahearthquake pic.twitter.com/hvCO8u4fit
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 10:04am

Nearly 75K now without power in Utah

Rocky Mountain Power reports nearly 75,000 people are without power in Utah, largely in Salt Lake and Tooele counties due to Wednesday's earthquake.

Updated at 8:08 am: We are aware of large scale power outage in the Salt Lake Valley Area impacting approximately 55,000 customer due to a 5.7 Magnitude Earthquake in the Magna Utah. We currently are assessing damages and will restore power as soon as possible.
— Rocky Mountain Power UT (@RMP_Utah) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 09:47am

TRAX trains halting service, FrontRunner trains running at slower speeds

All TRAX service has been halted until further notice, and FrontRunner trains are running at reduced speeds while Utah Transit Authority officials inspect tracks, the agency said. Damage was spotted on the FrontRunner line between the Salt Lake Central and Murray stations, so service between those areas will be unable to run until further notice, UTA said.

#FrontRunner Update 8:21 AM: All FrontRunner trains are running at restricted speeds while inspect the line for damage. Please plan additional time into your commute to account for significant delays.
— UTA (@RideUTA) March 18, 2020

#TRAX Alert: 8:41 am: Due to the earthquake and the after shocks ALL TRAX trains are halting service until further notice. We are working with power companies to restore power and have crews evaluating our rails for damage. No estimate as of when TRAX service will resume.
— UTA (@RideUTA) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 09:43am

Unified Police Department headquarters closed due to earthquake

A power outage caused by Wednesday's earthquake has forced the Unified Police Department to close its headquarters at the corner of Redwood Road and 3300 South, the department said.

Due to the #earthquake and a resulting power outage, UPD headquarters at 33rd/9th will be closed until further notice. Precinct offices will continue to remain closed as well. If you need non-emergency police assistance call 801-743-7000. Thanks.
— Unified Police Dept (@UPDSL) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 09:27am

KSL TV off air but live on Facebook

Power outages have knocked KSL TV off the air, but the station is now live on Facebook.

PROGRAM ALERT: Power outages have knocked broadcasting off TV. We are LIVE now on Facebook and @kslnewsradio is live. 102.7 FM and 1160 AM. #utahearthquake pic.twitter.com/072IbpIbd5
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 09:25am

Salt Lake City International Airport closed due to earthquake

Concourses and terminals at the Salt Lake City International Airport have been evacuated due to Wednesday morning’s earthquake, airport officials said. The road to the airport is also closed, and officials are asking people not to go to the airport at this time. The Federal Aviation Administration tower has also been evacuated, and the airport is currently not operational.

Road to the airport has been closed. Please do not come out to the airport
— SaltLakeCityAirport (@slcairport) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 09:21am

Salt Lake City residents asked to stay away from downtown area

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has asked people in the Salt Lake City area to stay away from downtown while crews assess damage from Wednesday's earthquake.

Please stay away from the downtown area while crews assess damage. Unless you work in public safety, or are an essential employee, remain at home or telework.
— Gov. Gary Herbert (@GovHerbert) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 09:08am

Utah Coronavirus Hotline currently down, governor says

Utah's coronavirus hotline is currently down, according to Gov. Gary Herbert. The Utah Department of Health's state lab is also down and currently assessing damage, Herbert said.

The @UtahDepOfHealth state lab is assessing damage and currently down. The poison control center has been evacuated and the @UtahCoronavirus hotline is down.
— Gov. Gary Herbert (@GovHerbert) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 09:03am

Number without power in Utah up to 47K

More than 47,000 Utahns are without power, mostly in Salt Lake County due to Wednesday morning's earthquake, according to Rocky Mountain Power. The company said it was working to assess damage and restore power to customers.

Updated at 8:08 am: We are aware of large scale power outage in the Salt Lake Valley Area impacting approximately 55,000 customer due to a 5.7 Magnitude Earthquake in the Magna Utah. We currently are assessing damages and will restore power as soon as possible.
— Rocky Mountain Power UT (@RMP_Utah) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 08:51am

Utah Department of Emergency Management advice on how to prepare for earthquakes

What you can do today to start preparing for earthquakes:
• Follow @BeReadyUtah
• start keeping a flashlight and shoes by your bed
• finally start making those earthquake preparedness plans
• plan to strap your water heater to the studs#utquake
— Utah Emergency Mgmt (@UtahEmergency) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 08:47am

All TRAX trains delayed until further notice

Due to the earthquake, all TRAX trains have pulled into the nearest station and are delayed until further notice as of 7:47 a.m., Utah Transit Authority said. Passengers should expect widespread delays.

#TRAX Alert: 7:47 am: Due to the earthquake and the after shocks ALL TRAX trains are pulling into the closest station and holding until further notice. We are evaluating our rails for damage and seeing where our trains can go. Delays will be substantial.
— UTA (@RideUTA) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 08:46am

Salt Lake City officials assessing damage, mayor says

I know the last thing we need right now is an earthquake, but here we are, and it sounds like aftershocks are likely. The City is assessing the situation now and I’ll circle back with an update when I have it. Be safe. #utpol #slc
— SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall (@slcmayor) March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 08:43am

Nearly 34K without power in Magna

As of 7:45 a.m., Rocky Mountain Power reported just under 34,000 people were affected by a power outage, mostly in the Magna area closest to the epicenter of the quake.

We are aware of large scale power outage in the Salt Lake Valley Area impacting approximately 32,000 customer due to a 5.7 Magnitude Earthquake in the Magna Utah area. We currently are assessing damages and will restore power as soon as possible.
— Rocky Mountain Power UT (@RMP_Utah) March 18, 2020