A 4.9 magnitude earthquake in a remote Idaho county triggered rock slides that blocked some road lanes today but did not cause any major damage or injuries.
The quake followed a 3.7-magnitude temblor that also occurred near the Custer County area on Dec. 22 and numerous smaller recent quakes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey website.
Linda Lumpkin, a dispatcher for the sheriff's office, told The Associated Press that everyone there felt it, but there were no reports of damage. The earthquake was recorded at 10:44 am today and was centered about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) east of Challis, a small town of about 1,000 in the center of the state surrounded by U.S. National Forest land.
Rock slides blocked lanes on several roads, Lumpkin said. Sheriff's deputies went out to direct traffic as the transportation department began cleanup.
Mike Clifford, a manager at the Village Square True Value hardware store in Challis, said a few items fell off the shelves "but no big messes."
"It lasted about 10 seconds," he said.
Clifford said the region has experienced a number of earthquakes in the last few weeks, but nothing major.
Idaho's largest recorded earthquake was recorded in the area. The 6.9-magnitude quake hit in 1983 near 12,667-foot (3,860-meter) Borah Peak, Idaho's tallest peak.
