LOS ANGELES, July 6 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 startled many people out of their sleep in U.S. western state of Montana early Thursday, but no damage or injuries were reported.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake, struck around 12:30 a.m. local time with the epicenter located in Lincoln, about 2000 kilometers north to Los Angeles, was the largest quake to hit the area in the past 20 years.
The National Public Radio (NPR) reported that the shaking led some in the area to wonder whether the Yellowstone Park super volcano was finally emerging from its slumber, but the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory's most recent volcano alert level was listed as normal, and the park service said that while the area normally had more than 1,000 earthquakes each year.
USGS geophysicist Robert Sanders told the Los Angeles Times that the quake of this magnitude was a "very rare event" but not "impossible."
Many local residents shared their experience on social media, saying they woke to fears that an intruder was in their house and their dogs jumped on their owners to seek safety.
