© The Daily Mail, UKNew quake: The epicentre of this latest earthquake, measuring 3.4, was just four miles from Mineral, where last week's 5.8 quake started
The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 3.4 magnitude aftershock at 5.09am this morning.
The epicentre was four miles south-southeast of Mineral, the town that was the epicentre of last Tuesday's 5.8-magnitude earthquake.
More than 20 aftershocks ranging from 4.5 to 1.8 have followed the earthquake.
Aftershocks are smaller tremors that take place in the weeks and possibly months following a major earthquake like the one centred in Virginia.
The aftershock occurred as it was revealed that last Tuesday's quake rattled casks holding radioactive nuclear waste at a Virginia plant, moving them as much as 4.5 inches from their original position.
The earthquake, which was felt as far away as Toronto, shifted 25 casks, each 16-feet tall and weighing 115 tons, on a concrete pad at Dominion Resources Inc's North Anna nuclear plant.
Reader Comments
Fukushima is irradiating Tokyo and surrounding areas. It would be interesting (if rather tragic) if this one made Washington uninhabitable. Besides the obvious benefit of getting rid some rather undesirable people. Kindof a cruel thought I guess, since most of the people in the neighborhood who will be affected aren't guilty of mass murder and sundry other crimes against humanity. Maybe ignorance and apathy. But I don't think that should be a capitol offense. 2nd But. Ignorance and apathy carry their own punishments i suppose. I'm pretty sure death is on that list somewhere.