Earthquake hits the Virginia area

Earthquake hits the East Coast

A 5.9 earthquake in the Virginia area was felt as far as New York City, Buffalo

(Right) People in Times Square react and watch a jumbotron for updates after an earthquake was felt in New York City Tuesday afternoon - Craig Warga/NewsThe Daily News' Helen Kennedy, Erin Einhorn & Erin Durkin report:

An earthquake centered 340 miles south of New York sent thousands of people running out of swaying office buildings across the city and briefly grounded flights at Kennedy and Newark airports.

It was the first major quake to hit New York in decades.

The initial government estimate was that the quake's magnitude was 5.9 on the Richter Scale with an epicenter located in Mineral, Va., near Richmond.

The quake, which hit at 1:51 p.m. and lasted only a few seconds, was felt up and down the Eastern Seaboard - as far north as Tornoto.

In New York, City Hall and police headquarters were evacuated.

No problems were reported with the MTH's bridges and tunnels or the subway, but flights at Newark and Kennedy Airports were briefly delayed as a precaution.

Gov Cuomo said there was no damage to the power grid or the Indian Point nuclear power plant.