SEATTLE, Wa., February 28 – The Pacific Northwest was rocked by a powerful earthquake today, sending people fleeing into the streets of Seattle and Portland, Ore., damaging buildings and roads, and closing Seattle’s two airports.
No deaths were reported, but 16 people were treated at Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center, four for serious injuries, spokeswoman Marsha Rule said. There were no other immediate reports of injuries.
The magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit at 10:55 a.m., according to the National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo., which initially pegged the magnitude at 7.0. Centered 35 miles southwest of Seattle, it was felt across the region and into Canada. The dome of the Washington Capitol had a visible crack.
Numerous buildings in Seattle reported damage, mostly minor cracks and broken glass. Bricks falling from the top of the Starbucks corporate headquarters in south Seattle heavily damaged cars parked below.
Screams erupted at a nearby hotel, where Microsoft founder Bill Gates was addressing an education and technology conference. He was whisked away as his audience bolted for the exits. Some were knocked down by others trying to get out and overhead lights fell to the floor.
Cars stand damaged among bricks and mortar which fell from the roof of a parking garage in Seattle.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was closed and the tower and other offices were evacuated, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman William Shumann said.
The FAA ordered a national ground stop for Seattle, which means no flights to the Northwest’s largest city were being allowed to take off anywhere in the country. The center handling air traffic in Washington and Oregon, near Auburn, Wash., was operating on backup power.
Boeing Field in south Seattle also was closed, by damage to the runway, said King County Executive Ron Sims.
Puget Sound Energy reported 200,000 customers in Western Washington lost service when the quake tripped circuit breakers. Spokesman Grant Ringel said most of the power should be restored by late afternoon.
Seattle Mayor Paul Schell said the city was evaluating buildings and it would take some time before assessments are complete. However, he said preparations and seismic remodeling by building owners and residents mindful of the region’s earthquake risk paid off.
“I think the city has been very mindful of earthquake risks,” Schell said. “We have no catastrophic damage.”
Schools throughout the region halted classes, but many served as shelters for children until they could be reunited with parents. Many businesses also sent their workers home.
Boeing, the region’s major private employer, closed all its Seattle area factories until Thursday. Spokesman Tom Ryan said there were no immediate reports of serious damage.
Seattle’s Space Needle was closed for about 2½ hours, stranding about 30 people at the observation deck and restaurant on top. The landmark dating from the 1962 World’s Fair was built to sway during an earthquake or strong winds.
In Olympia, about 10 miles from the epicenter, a crack was visible in the Capitol dome. Legislators, government workers and visiting school children flooded out of the Capitol and other buildings. The state Senate was in session.
Officials were particularly afraid the Capitol dome would collapse and people linked hands as they walked down the marble stairs under the heavy dome.
Seattle’s popular Pioneer Square neighborhood, site of a Mardi Gras disturbance the night before, was damaged. Bricks from buildings were piled up on sidewalks. Structural damage also was reported at Bellevue Community College, which was shut down for the day.
In downtown Portland, 300 miles from the epicenter, office buildings swayed for 20 to 30 seconds. The Multnomah County Courthouse was evacuated and employees were gathered in a park across the street while officials inspected for damage.
Earthquake magnitudes are measures of earthquake size calculated from ground motion recorded on seismographs. With each scale, an increase in one full number– from 6.5 to 7.5, for example– means the quake’s magnitude is 10 times as great.
A quake with a magnitude of 6 can cause severe damage, while one with a magnitude of 7 can cause widespread, heavy damage.
