Virginia Earthquake Largest Since 1897, Rattles East Coast Cities [PHOTOS]

An earthquake struck the East Coast on Tuesday, shaking buildings in many cities, delaying flights and trains and sending thousands of frightened workers into the streets.

There were no reports of major damage or injuries from the 5.9 magnitude quake, which was centered in Mineral, Virginia, according to the USGS. Shaking was felt as far north as Canada.

The Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol were briefly evacuated in Washington, and thousands of panicked office workers scurried into the streets up and down the East Coast as the lunchtime quake sent items crashing to the floor from store and office shelves.

Phone service was disrupted throughout the region as network congestion prevented users from making calls.

In New York, the tremors prompted evacuations of courthouses, City Hall and halted work at the World Trade Center construction site.

Control towers at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City and Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey were also evacuated, and flights were grounded briefly in Washington, Philadelphia and New York while authorities inspected control towers and runways.

Fire department and police officials in Dutchess County, north of New York City, reported structural damage to some buildings.

The quake was the largest in Virginia since 1897.