Underground Nuclear Test Felt in Las Vegas
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YUCCA FLAT, Nev. — An underground nuclear weapons test rocked the Nevada desert at dawn Thursday, unleashing a shock felt at some Las Vegas hotel-casinos 85 miles away, authorities said.
The test carried a force of 20 to 150 kilotons, the highest allowed under test limitation treaties, and created a shock that registered 5.1 on the Richter scale of ground motion. All U.S. tests are listed as either less than 20 kilotons or as 20 to 150 kilotons.
Thirteen protesters demonstrated at the main entrance to the desert site and 11 were arrested for trespassing.
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