Edmund Schweppe

An earthquake centered in Virginia shook the Eastern Seaboard just before 2 p.m., and was felt as a rumble lasting several seconds in the Boston area. Some buildings in Boston were evacuated, while officials checked for damage, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake measured 5.9 on the Richter scale and was centered 83 miles southwest of Washington, D.C.

[ ... ]

David Procopio, spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police, said the tremor was felt at the agency headquarters in Framingham. He also said more than 40 phone calls were received by dispatchers shortly after the tremor.

“No one was reporting any significant damage,’’ Procopio said. “They were just asking what’s going on and if there is there is anything they should do.’’

“We have nothing happening unusual yet,’’ said Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald, who also said dispatchers felt the temblor.