4.6-magnitude quake causes damage in US state Montana

An earthquake damages an apartment building and knocks bricks off the facades of buildings in southwestern Montana.

An earthquake damaged an apartment building and knocked bricks off the facades of buildings in southwestern Montana , authorities have said.

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The 4.6 magnitude quake, reported at 9:46 am on Tuesday, was centered about 15 kilometres) northeast of Sheridan, Montana. It was felt in Helena and as far away as Idaho, according to the US Geological Survey Web site.

Students at Sheridan Elementary School were under their desks on Tuesday morning, in some cases before teachers realized an earthquake was shaking the area, the school secretary said.

The school was not damaged. One Sheridan family was evacuated from their damaged downtown apartment until it can be proven safe, said Frank Ford, Madison County's former emergency management director.