[5][6][7] The shock measured 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent).

Extensive breakage occurred along a five-mile (8 km) zone between West Spring and Cedar Creek; ground surface was literally "shattered" into tilted blocks, each several meters in width.

[11] In Challis, two children were killed when a stone storefront collapsed on them while walking to school; two others suffered minor injuries.

[17] After the earthquake and aftershocks, the eruption intervals of Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park, about 150 miles (240 km) east, were noticeably lengthened.

[18] Near Chilly Buttes of Thousand Springs Valley, a series of artesian fountains/sand blows erupted immediately after the main shock.