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PASADENA -- Officials at Caltech in Pasadena say internet rumors of an impending earthquake in the Los Angeles area are not true.
The rumors, which spread like wildfire via text message and Twitter, triggered a deluge of calls to Caltech, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Pasadena Fire Department.
The rumors predicted that a major earthquake was about to hit the Los Angeles area and Caltech was evacuating the building. Authorities say it's a hoax.
Jon Weiner, director of media relations at Caltech, says the rumors are simply not true. "We can't predict earthquakes, and we're not sending employees home." Weiner said his office has received several calls from worried residents.
Officials with the Pasadena Fire Department said they received several calls Monday from people saying they heard a quake was imminent. Some even said they received a call from the USGS claiming a major quake would strike within 24 to 72 hours and warned them to go home and get ready.
There appears to be no specific evidence about the source of the rumor. However, earthquakepredictions.com claims a major quake will occur this week in California.
Linda Curtis, information specialist at the USGS, said they received calls beginning on Thursday. More are coming in today. Some callers say they heard that Pasadena had been evacuated and people were told to leave work.
"It's unfair for whoever is doing this to people. It's a cruel thing to do to people," said Curtis, who likened it to yelling "fire!" in a theater.
The rumors, which spread like wildfire via text message and Twitter, triggered a deluge of calls to Caltech, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Pasadena Fire Department.
The rumors predicted that a major earthquake was about to hit the Los Angeles area and Caltech was evacuating the building. Authorities say it's a hoax.
Jon Weiner, director of media relations at Caltech, says the rumors are simply not true. "We can't predict earthquakes, and we're not sending employees home." Weiner said his office has received several calls from worried residents.
Officials with the Pasadena Fire Department said they received several calls Monday from people saying they heard a quake was imminent. Some even said they received a call from the USGS claiming a major quake would strike within 24 to 72 hours and warned them to go home and get ready.
There appears to be no specific evidence about the source of the rumor. However, earthquakepredictions.com claims a major quake will occur this week in California.
Linda Curtis, information specialist at the USGS, said they received calls beginning on Thursday. More are coming in today. Some callers say they heard that Pasadena had been evacuated and people were told to leave work.
"It's unfair for whoever is doing this to people. It's a cruel thing to do to people," said Curtis, who likened it to yelling "fire!" in a theater.
