A 5.4 magnitude earthquake that was South Korea's second-strongest in decades damaged infrastructure, injured dozens of people and left about 1,500 homeless, officials said Thursday.
No deaths have been reported since the quake rattled the southeastern coastal region around the port city of Pohang on Wednesday afternoon.
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A 5.4 magnitude earthquake that was South Korea's second-strongest in decades damaged infrastructure, injured dozens of people and left about 1,500 homeless, officials said Thursday.
As of Thursday morning, 1,536 people had been forced to evacuate their homes and 57 people were injured, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said in a statement.
The quake also forced the education ministry to put off the university entrance exam for one week because some buildings chosen as test venues had cracks and students in the southeastern region were displaced from their homes and complained of anxieties. The annual test administered by the government is a huge national event in South Korea, where diplomas from top colleges often guarantee better jobs and spouses.
South Korea's state-run Korea Meteorological Administration said the epicenter of Wednesday's quake was inside Pohang while the U.S. Geological Survey said it was centered about 9.3 kilometers (5.8 miles) northwest of the port city. The shaking was felt in Seoul, more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) away.
Debris from a collapsed wall that destroyed a vehicle is scattered in front of a kindergarten after an earthquake in Pohang, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck off South Korea's southeastern coast Wednesday afternoon, but no casualties were immediately reported. (Kim Jun-beom/Yonhap via AP)
Students gather on playground after evacuating after an earthquake at Handong University in Pohang, South Korea, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck off South Korea's southeastern coast Wednesday afternoon, but no casualties were immediately reported. (Kim Yong-tae/Yonhap via AP)
Debris from a collapsed building is scattered in front of a shopping center after an earthquake in Pohang, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. The earthquake shook South Korea’s southeastern coastal region on Wednesday afternoon, but no casualties were immediately reported. (Park Jun/Newsis via AP)
As of Thursday morning, 1,536 people had been forced to evacuate their homes and 57 people were injured, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said in a statement.
More than 1,000 houses and dozens of other buildings and cars were damaged or destroyed, and cracks and other damage were found in military facilities, bridges, port facilities and water supply facilities. Media images showed crumbled walls piled on damaged cars, broken windows and cracks in buildings.
Debris from a collapsed wall is scattered in front of a kindergarten after an earthquake in Pohang, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck off South Korea's southeastern coast Wednesday afternoon, but no casualties were immediately reported. (Kim Jun-beom/Yonhap via AP)
The quake also forced the education ministry to put off the university entrance exam for one week because some buildings chosen as test venues had cracks and students in the southeastern region were displaced from their homes and complained of anxieties. The annual test administered by the government is a huge national event in South Korea, where diplomas from top colleges often guarantee better jobs and spouses.
It's the second-strongest quake in South Korea since the country officially began monitoring them in 1978. The biggest quake occurred in September 2016, when a 5.8 magnitude occurred near the ancient city of Gyeongju, which is close to Pohang. That quake also caused injuries but no deaths.
CORRECTION CORRECTS MAGNITUDE: People gather outside after evacuating Ulsan City Hall after an earthquake in Ulsan, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck off South Korea's southeastern coast Wednesday afternoon, but no casualties were immediately reported.(Lee Sang-hyun/Yonhap via AP)
South Korea's state-run Korea Meteorological Administration said the epicenter of Wednesday's quake was inside Pohang while the U.S. Geological Survey said it was centered about 9.3 kilometers (5.8 miles) northwest of the port city. The shaking was felt in Seoul, more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) away.
South Korea has relatively little seismic activity, unlike neighboring Japan.
Debris from a collapsed wall is scattered in front of a shop after an earthquake in Pohang, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck off South Korea's southeastern coast Wednesday afternoon, but no casualties were immediately reported. (Min Kyung-suck/Newsis via AP)
Debris from a collapsed wall that destroyed a vehicle is scattered in front of a kindergarten after an earthquake in Pohang, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck off South Korea's southeastern coast Wednesday afternoon, but no casualties were immediately reported. (Kim Jun-beom/Yonhap via AP)
Students gather on playground after evacuating after an earthquake at Handong University in Pohang, South Korea, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck off South Korea's southeastern coast Wednesday afternoon, but no casualties were immediately reported. (Kim Yong-tae/Yonhap via AP)