SALT LAKE CITY-
11:35 am
KUTV 2 News anchor Heidi Hatch reported facilities at the Salt Lake City International Airport are “structurally sound.” The majority of the damage is cosmetic. General aviation and cargo aircraft will be allowed to arrive and depart.
9:20 am
Per a report from Flight Radar 24, flights are continuing to divert away from Salt Lake City International Airport as the airport is closed following the earthquake.
8:52 am
The Salt Lake City International Airport is not currently operational. The FAA towers, terminals and concourses have been evacuated. The road to the airport has been opened so that passengers can be picked up.
8:27 am
Amid the 5.7 magnitude earthquake that shook the Salt Lake Valley this morning at 7:09 am MDT and subsequently caused water lines to break at the Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah Governor Gary Herbert has made another declaration.
Herbert has specifically asked, as of 7:57 am this morning, that all stay away from the downtown Salt Lake City area as crews assess the damage.
Herbert further instructs that if residents are not public safety workers or “essential employees,” that they remain at home or telework.
Furthermore, the Salt Lake City International Airport has confirmed that the road to the airport has been closed. They respectfully ask that no one come out to the airport at this present time.
This earthquake specifically occurred 3 miles away from the Salt Lake City suburb of Magna.
Meanwhile, there have been 18 aftershocks (earthquakes that follow the largest shock of an earthquake sequence) since the initial quake struck.
Authorities suggest that these aftershocks may be just as big and could possibly last into Thursday.
Presently, 55,000 Salt Lake City residents are also without power this morning per numerous reports.
