(Washington D.C.) - A powerful earthquake rocked the region around the nation's capital Tuesday afternoon, causing numerous buildings to be evacuated and triggering fear in many who say the rumbling was very similar to what they felt during the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001.

The U.S. Geological Survey now says it was a 5.9 earthquake centered northwest of Richmond, Va., that rattled the nation's capital and much of the East Coast.

USGS says the earthquake was 3.7 miles deep. Shaking was felt at the White House and all over the East Coast, as far south as Chapel Hill, N.C. and as far north as Rhode Island and New York City.

Parts of the Pentagon, White House and Capitol were evacuated.