Mass. observatory documents quake

WESTON, Mass. (WPRI) - The seismograph at the Weston Observatory in Massachusetts was able to detect Tuesday's earthquake, which was centered hundreds of miles away in Mineral, Virginia.

The observatory was flooded with more than 500 calls within 15 minutes after the quake hit.

The Weston Observatory's Dr. Michael Haggerty said there was a good reason why the quake was felt so far away.

"Because here on the east coast, the earth's crust is very old and cold and it transmits seismic waves very efficiently," Haggerty said.

Experts say the 5.9 magnitude quake is the strongest this side of the Rocky Mountains since 1895.