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Sunday, April 28, 2024

The 5.8-magnitude earthquake that shook the East Coast on Tuesday seems to have left all Gators unharmed.

"As far as we know, they're OK," said UF spokesman Steve Orlando of UF graduates and students who felt the tremors of the earthquake that was centered northwest of Richmond, Va.

The New York Times reported the effects were felt from New Hampshire to North Carolina.

The earthquake hit at 1:51 p.m. Tuesday and lasted about 30 seconds, according to the New York Times.

Facebook erupted with status updates about the earthquake soon after.

There were minimal reports of damage at the epicenter. A nearby nuclear power plant was taken offline. Amtrak trains were temporarily stopped, and cellphone service was unavailable because too many calls were put through cellular systems.

Orlando said a lot of people are shaken up, but no one is hurt and there hasn't been any damage to any Gators' properties other than a few broken windows.

Breanna Rossman, a 22-year-old UF architecture alumna who graduated in May and lives in Boston, said she didn't feel the tremors of the earthquake, but a friend on the 10th floor of a building did.

"I was just a little nervous just because I heard that as far as Ohio felt it and I have family there," Rossman said.

This earthquake was rare because of its power, said Ray Russo, UF associate professor of geological sciences.

Usually, earthquakes in that area are so small no one notices them.

"It's quite large for the region it occurred," Russo said.

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UF does not have study programs in the area the earthquake hit.

Staff at the Dean of Students Office did not provide additional information and deferred questions to UF spokespeople.

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