Damage reported in Salt Lake City after 5.7 magnitude Magna earthquake
Mar 18, 2020, 8:58 AM | Updated: 2:02 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — The road to the Salt Lake City airport is closed, a wall outside the Salt Lake Rescue Mission collapsed, and there are other reports of damage across the region after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake and aftershocks near Magna.
Part of the Salt Lake Rescue Mission collapsed, no injuries. Evacuations took place pic.twitter.com/qZ0cO8PyV5
— Felicia Martinez (@FeliciaKSL) March 18, 2020
Building damage 5th South 4th West and traffic lights out all along 4th west. Hearing more sirens as the ground shakes again. pic.twitter.com/S5eIySq6Ea
— Mary Richards (@kslmrichards) March 18, 2020
Police say the building was unoccupied; was under construction to be retrofitted. Right now there’s a debris field that fell to the sidewalk in the street on 400 W. at 500 South that they have to clean up. Intersections also affected because of power outages. pic.twitter.com/wwinaRWdY3
— Mary Richards (@kslmrichards) March 18, 2020
Officially official: all operations at the #SLC airport are halted until further notice. ✈️ #SLCEarthquake #utquake pic.twitter.com/orwEjNzfVS
— Kelli Pierce (@KelliReports) March 18, 2020
At the time of this writing, the airport’s traffic control tower is evacuated and airport officials asked people not to go to the airport. People at the airport shared videos of running water on the floor inside.
Pipes broken at SLC airport #earthquake pic.twitter.com/oBkJCDALCQ
— . (@A_kalinowski) March 18, 2020
The #earthquakeutah aftermath what we know.@RMP_Utah is reporting more than 64,000 customers without power.@slcairport is reporting the road to the airport is currently closed.@canyonsdistrict says grab-and go lunches canceled.
A number of buildings have been damaged.
— KSL NewsRadio (@kslnewsradio) March 18, 2020
West Valley City police reported damage across their city after the Magna earthquake. They set up a command center to respond more quickly.
Breaking: @WVCPD setting up command center saying they have some damage across city @KSL5TV #earthquake pic.twitter.com/9UzeX6u1dg
— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) March 18, 2020
The angel Moroni atop the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lost his trumpet.
On Temple Square. The trumpet is gone. Here is my fastest attempt at a before after. pic.twitter.com/NfbPA0XEr5
— Mary Richards (@kslmrichards) March 18, 2020
Area residents reported multiple buildings with bricks knocked off their facades, such as Silvercrest Elementary School in Herriman.
Here’s some video of the damage at Silvercrest Elementary school in Herriman and an interview with a parent whose son goes there. She’s thankful school wasn’t happening at the time the earthquake hit because lots of kids would be going in and out. #KSLTV #utahearthquake pic.twitter.com/lEukQAyOvb
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) March 18, 2020
The Utah Department of Transportation closed I-80 EB near Tooele to conduct structural inspections.
Earthquake preparedness
Utah is “Earthquake Country,” meaning the state is susceptible to earthquakes, especially along the Wasatch Front. It’s important to prepare yourself and your family for an earthquake. Here are some basic tips on earthquake preparedness:
Before an Earthquake
- Move or secure objects that could fall and hurt you
- Identify your building’s potential weaknesses and begin to fix them
- Create a disaster-preparedness plan and have disaster supply kits ready
During an Earthquake
- Seek cover under sturdy furniture or doorways. As things move, hold on, and move with it.
- Move away from windows and objects that could fall
- Move against a wall in the interior of the building, cover and protect yourself