The National Park Service has closed the Washington Monument indefinitely after discovering Tuesday’s earthquake cracked stones at the top of the 555 foot structure. In a statement posted on their website, the park service said they will have “structural engineers evaluate the cracks on Wednesday to determine the best way to repair the Monument before it is reopened.”
Adding that the safety of visitors remains their “chief concern,” the NPS said they have ordered the evaluation of “all of the structures throughout the National Capital Region to determine structural integrity.”
The 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Tuesday afternoon just before 2 o’clock. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter was located about 87 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. near Mineral, Virginia. The tremor was felt in several states including New York, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
Minor damages were reported in Louisa, Virginia and surrounding areas. In D.C., the National Cathedral also sustained damages. Three of four pinnacles on the tower were damaged and cracks were reported on the east end of the building.
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