Small Quake Shakes Central Part of The Willamette Valley

Blue square indicates the area at Scotts Mills, about 24 miles east of Salem, where the quake was centered Photo Courtesy: USGS

(SCOTT MILLS AP) - A small earthquake rattled the central part of the Willamette River Valley this morning.

The quake was a preliminary magnitude three, probably triggered by a fault that produces many similar shakings.

James Roddey is earth sciences information officer for the Oregon Department of Geology. He says that area is notorious for many small earthquakes.

The earthquake was recorded at 7:24 AM at a depth of 12 miles.

It was centered about 24 miles east of Salem. The closest town is Scotts Mills. There were no immediate reports of damage.

Roddey says the last major earthquake from that region was in 1993. It was a magnitude five-point-six temblor and caused 30 million dollars in damage. Minor injuries were reported in that quake.