D.C., N.Y. areas evacuate as 5.9 earthquake felt across Eastcoast (BLOG)

WASHINGTON — Thousands of people evacuated buildings across Washington, D.C., and New York City on Tuesday after a moderate earthquake in V...

WASHINGTON — Thousands of people evacuated buildings across Washington, D.C., and New York City on Tuesday after a moderate earthquake in Virginia that was also felt as far south as Chapel Hill, N.C.

Parts of the Pentagon, White House and Capitol were among the areas evacuated.

Centered 87 miles from the nation's capital, the quake was a magnitude 5.9, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

At the U.S. Capitol, light fixtures swung and the building shook for about 15 seconds while the tremor hit, NBC News reported.

In New York City, NBC reported debris fell from the attorney general's office, causing a brief panic as people ran from the area.

Airport towers and government buildings in the city, including City Hall, were evacuated. The 26-story federal courthouse in lower Manhattan began swaying and hundreds of people were seen leaving the building.

A mild tremor was even felt by NBC reporters with President Barack Obama during his vacation on Martha's Vineyard, an island off Massachusetts.

More about the quake at breakingnews.com

The earthquake’s epicenter was between Charlottesville and Richmond, Va., the USGS reported. It was a very shallow quake, 3.7 miles deep, which would explain why it was so widely felt.