Subscribers to the Arlington Alert email list received a message earlier with the news that some event in Northern Virginia this afternoon registered on the richter scale.
The National Earthquake Information Center, via FEMA Operations, is reporting that Northern VA has experienced rumblings equivalent to an earthquake of magnitude 2 to 3. It remains unclear if this was an actual earthquake, or due to another cause. Arlington OEM will continue to monitor.
Did you feel the rumble?
We’re still waiting for absolute confirmation that an earthquake did not occur, but have been hearing from multiple sources that the shaking was the result of underground blasting at Ft. Belvoir. Indeed, The AP via NBC4 reported last week that demolition experts would be working today and Friday to dislodge large rocks that are blocking construction of a new headquarters for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. There is some question though, whether these underground explosions could have been felt in such a large range around the blasts and at such a magnitude. We’ll update when we hear more.
UPDATE: The U.S. Geological Survey rates the rumble at 1.8 on the richter scale, and having occurred at 1:30:23 p.m.
UPDATE II: The U.S. Geological Survey is placing the epicenter of the rumble at 1 mile southwest of Annandale. Ft. Belvoir is located 15 miles south of Annandale. WTOP is going ahead and calling this event an earthquake, even though officials at Ft. Belvoir have said their blasting may have been responsible.
UPDATE III: Looks like those folks who were blaming the rumble on Ft. Belvoir were totally wrong. Here’s what we just heard straight from them:
I just wanted to let you know we at Fort Belvoir received a call from the U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center indicating an earthquake had occurred about 1:30 p.m. today. Media reports circulating that Belvoir officials had confirmed blasting here caused the reported rumbles are inaccurate. No one from this office had any information to indicate that was the case. Our scheduled subterranean blasts were set for 4:30 p.m. today. There was no unscheduled blasting at the site.
Hope that helps.
Don Dees
Fort Belvoir Public Affairs
Final conclusion: definitely an earthquake!
