UPDATE (3:05 p.m.) The Washington Business Journal’s Sarah Krouse reports that a National Cathedral spokesperson has confirmed that “at least three pinnacles on the central tower have broken off.”

UPDATE (2:50 p.m.) It appears as if that report of collapsed building on the 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE turned out to be a false alarm. However, there are some reports of minor damage in various places around the District, including some potential damage to the National Cathedral. We’re working on confirming that information, and will obviously continue updating as information comes in. For the most immediate updates, check in with our Twitter account.

Freedom Plaza after the earthquake. (Andrew Wiseman)

UPDATE (2:35 p.m.) We’re getting word that service at National Airport has been disrupted, and Terminal A is being evacuated. Students at D.C. Public Schools are all safe, so that’s a piece of good news. We also thought we’d pass along this guide on what to do in case there are any aftershocks.

UPDATE (2:20 p.m.): All indicators are that the District escaped without widespread severe damage, although there have been reports via Twitter of a collapsed building on the 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Metrorail trains, amazingly, are still running, but at a reduced speed of 15 miles per hour. We’re hearing a lot of reports of people being evacuated and let back into their office buildings, and cell phone service continues to be spotty around the area. Above all, we have not yet heard of any injuries from the quake.

ORIGINAL POST: An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 hit the District of Columbia this afternoon. We’re hearing that most, if not all, federal buildings have been evacuated and phone service is apparently down for most of the region. Obviously, more details when we get them.