Seattle-Area Quake Topples Chimneys

The second sharp earthquake in two days jolted an area from Oregon to British Columbia, toppling chimneys and rupturing gas and water mains. The quake, which hit at 6:43 p.m., was estimated at magnitude 5.5 by the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo. The Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network at the University of Washington seismology lab in Seattle estimated it at 5.1. Bill Steele, UW seismology lab coordinator, said the Colorado lab was looking at one facet of the quake and the UW lab was looking at the duration of shaking. The quake was centered near Satsop, about 68 miles southwest of Seattle. A quake Thursday night jolted the south Puget Sound area and had a 3.0 magnitude. It was centered north of Tacoma.