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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Canadian earthquake with a magnitude of 5, centered near the border of Ontario and Quebec, rumbled 12 miles beneath the surface of the earth Wednesday afternoon. Tremors from the quake were felt hundreds of miles away.

Workers in downtown Cleveland say office buildings started shaking around 1:45 p.m., when a shock wave from the earthquake shot across the North Coast.

Justin Whelan said, "I was sitting in my office and it felt like something was moving above me, sounded like they were moving a desk or something and I didn't really think it was an earthquake or anything, it's kind of the last thing you think."

Tammy Simonitis added, "I was on the 20th floor and I felt shaking, trembling, the ceiling was like crackling, I thought somebody was working on top, kind of weaved back and forth."

Employees at a number of downtown buildings decided to get out as soon as possible, after 15 to 20 seconds of sustained shaking.

"I was on the 15th floor talking to somebody on the phone and chairs started shaking, my glass started shaking," Renee Heller. "The next thing I knew I was down the steps and out of there."

Jennifer Zielinski said, "We're running down the stairs like we were running for our lives, it was kind of scary going down the stairs, 12 floors of stairs is lot more than you think when you're scared."

Management at buildings like 55 Public Square decided to evacuate for a short period of time as a precaution.

"It's a little scary," Shawnette Wilson admitted. "We're on the 15th floor so it's a little scary being that high and having to come down the stairs so slowly."

No injuries were reported in greater Cleveland, and any damage is considered minor.


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