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Minor Earthquake Hits U.S. Capital

17 July 2010 03:05 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. A mild earthquake shook the capital of the United States Friday, though there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake measured 3.6 in magnitude, the largest quake in the Washington area in decades.

Officials said the quake’s epicenter was located just north of the nation’s capital in Maryland.

Asked at a press conference whether he felt the tremor, U.S. President Barack Obama laughed and said he did not.

But other residents in the area reported feeling a rumbling for several seconds.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Geological Survey said the minor earthquake was the largest recorded within 50 kilometers of Washington since a database was created to track such activity in 1974.