Unusual M5.9 earthquake strikes Virginia

Update: EQECAT puts expected insured losses from this event at  less than $100m.
An earthquake measuring M5.9 on the Richter scale has struck in the U.S. state of Virginia. The quake’s epicenter was located approximately 9 miles from a town called Mineral at a depth of approximately 3.7 miles. As yet we have no reports of any major damage, however shaking from the earthquake was felt as far away as Washington, North Carolina and even New York.

It is the largest earthquake to be recorded in the state of Virgina since another M5.9 quake was recorded in 1897.

While there are no reports of any major damage or injuries there have been some disruptions to flights at major airports, the Pentagon and US Capitol Buildings in Washington have been evacuated and some nuclear power plants in Virginia have been shut down.

Read the EQECAT CatWatch report about this earthquake event.

The Wall Street Journal has a live blog page which is being updated with information. We’ll bring you further details if any damage which could cause losses to re/insurers emerges.

Earthquake location map from the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)