Subj: Minor Quake Rocks Maine
Date: 1/17/00 5:54:45 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: hblondel@tampabay.rr.com (New Millennium)
To: hblondel@tampabay.rr.com (Newmill)

January 17 6:29 AM ET

Minor Quake Rocks Maine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A minor earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter
scale shook west-central Maine early on Monday, but there were no
reports of damage, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 3:16 a.m. EST, was about 40
miles northwest of Augusta, Maine, near the town of Rumford, said Diane
Noserale, a spokeswoman for the USGS. The temblor was felt in Oxford and
Franklin counties.

Noserale said the USGS had no reports of damage. Earthquakes of
magnitude 3-3.9 are generally no more severe than the vibrations from a
passing truck and may only be noticed by people who are resting.

The quake was the third in Maine in less than a month. A tremor
measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale hit the Lewiston area southwest of
Augusta on Jan. 3, and a smaller quake measuring 2.9 shook the Dexter
area in the central part of the state on Dec. 24.