There were only rockslides that blocked some roads on Saturday, but there were no injuries when a 4.9 magnitude earthquake struck Idaho at 10:44 a.m. But there was significant damage, particularly cracks on the walls of the homes close to the epicenter. It also caused power outage around Custer County.

Like Us on Facebook

The epicenter of the tremor was 4 miles east of Challis, a small and remote Idaho town, reports AP. However, it was felt up to 190 miles away, or up to Boise, which is in the southwest, said the U.S. Geological survey.

The shaking lasted for nine to ten seconds, which left many residents rattled, said Linda Lumpkin, Challis dispatch supervisor of the Custer County Sheriff's Office. She said their office received many calls reporting shaking and rock slides.

The state is part of a seismic belt from northwestern Montana to southern Nevada. Idaho has been rocked by many temblors since March 2014. Most of the quakes are at the area, the 12,667-foot Borah Peak, where a 6.9 tremor shook the state in 1983 and killed two children, reports Reuters.

Scientists are still studying if these series of earthquakes that begun on March 2014 are caused by a known dormant fault or a previously unknown fault. But they said the series of tremors is unlikely to lead to a major event in the state.

The state transport department has started to clean up the rock slides, the deputies from the Sheriff's Office were dispatched to direct traffic. Motorists were warned to watch out for loose or falling rocks.

Tagsearthquake, Idaho