Quarry blast shakes ground throughout Mankato

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) - Authorities say a quarry blast - not an earthquake - apparently caused the ground to shake in Mankato.

Tremors were felt throughout the city about 11 a.m. Tuesday. The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office says the shaking apparently came from a blast at Jefferson Quarry.

Mike Maurer, the county’s emergency management director, says there were no reports of major damage.

The city of Mankato said in a news release a vibration felt through most of the city may have been due to weather, with overpressure causing a “pressure wave.”

The Free Press of Mankato (https://bit.ly/2p1zMkj ) reports the dispatch center was overwhelmed with 911 calls.

Some residents said they felt like their homes were going to collapse.

The explosion shook the historic courthouse, temporarily halting a county board meeting.

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Information from: The Free Press, https://www.mankatofreepress.com