3.5 magnitude quake hits North Jeolla

South Korean government issued nationwide alerts as a 3.5-degree quake hit a county in North Jeolla on Saturday...

Korea Meteorological Administration employees at an office in Dongjak District, Seoul, on Sunday analyzing the earthquake that occured on Saturday. The earthquake was the third strongest this year. However, it was the strongest that occured on land as the two other earthquakes happened offshore. [YONHAP]

The Korean government issued a nationwide alert after a 3.5-degree quake hit a rural district in North Jeolla on Saturday.

The earthquake was detected some 18 kilometers (11.2 miles) north of Jangsu County in the southwestern province at 7:07 p.m. Saturday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

No one was reported injured in the quake.

The government agency issued text message alerts nationwide immediately after the quake to urge caution in case of aftershocks.

The administration initially estimated the quake's magnitude at 4.1 degrees but readjusted it to 3.5 after further assessments.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety on Saturday raised its alert status to orange, the second-highest level.

The earthquake was the third strongest of the 59 earthquakes that struck Korea this year.

However, the two stronger ones occurred offshore, making the latest quake the strongest to hit land.

The strongest earthquake this year was a 4.5 magnitude tremor that occurred at 6:27 a.m. on May 15, 52 kilometers northeast off the Donghae coast.

The second strongest earthquake occurred at 1:28 a.m. on Jan. 9 just 25 kilometers offshore from Ganghwa Island. The earthquake had a magnitude of 3.7.

The Korea Meteorological Administration's website shows the epicenter of the 4.1-degree quake detected in South Jeolla on Saturday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

In an earthquake with a magnitude of 3, people indoors — especially those on upper floors — can feel the tremor. Vehicles parked on the street might shake in a way similar to when a truck passes by.

So far, only one aftershock was detected 36 minutes after the initial quake. The aftershock was 1.3 magnitude, with the epicenter in the same place.

While no major damage was reported, fire departments around the regions received over 50 calls, 43 of which from North Jeolla. Four calls came from North Gyeongsang, and one even came from Busan.

According to the North Jeolla government on Sunday, authorities have received several reports of wall fissures called by the earthquake.

Some residents posted their quake experience online.

In one North Jeolla online community, a person claiming to be a resident of Hyoja-dong, Jeonju, North Jeolla, felt two thuds just 10 to 15 seconds before receiving the earthquake alarm message.

The person said he or she actually felt the thuds as he or she was sitting on the floor of a two-story apartment.

Another person who claimed to be on a hotel bed at the time in Namwon, North Jeolla, felt the bed shake just a second after hearing a thud.

A 67-year-old only identified as Kim told Yonhap that he was slightly lifted twice while sitting at home. The person lived only 2 kilometers from the earthquake's epicenter.

Jangsu County has operated an emergency team of 53 people since Saturday.

North Jeolla Vice Governor Im Sang-gyu on Sunday held an emergency meeting to continue monitoring the situation and prepare for potential aftershocks.

All major festivals were canceled.

Jangsu County kicked off its first-ever 10-day “Cool Valley Festival” on Friday.

Additionally, it canceled a two-day festival to promote local tomatoes and watermelons that started on Saturday.

“We will determine whether to reopen the festivals after monitoring the situation today,” said a Jangsu County official on Sunday.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]