Minor earthquake rolls out of Ohio

4/24/2009

GALLIPOLIS, Ohio Parts of three states have been shaken by a minor earthquake centered in southern Ohio.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports a 3.4 magnitude quake occurred around 9:45 a.m. Friday near Oak Hill, 80 miles south of Columbus.

East of the epicenter, staffers at the Gallia County 911 center thought a vehicle had hit their building and ran outside. Center director Steve Wilson says he figured it must have been an earthquake once he saw people also coming out of other nearby buildings.

Wilson says the 911 center quickly received 170 calls from rattled residents. There were no reports of damage.

The government says reports of weak to light shaking have come from as far away as the Columbus suburbs, as well as areas in West Virginia and Kentucky