WILLMAR -- Wednesday's earthquake that struck the West Central Minnesota area shortly before 10 a.m., brought mixed reactions from residents in the affected area.

Al Pierson, who lives on Southeast 14^th Street in Willmar, told the Tribune that "it sounded like an explosion," and noted that his entire house shook.

Shortly after the tremor yesterday morning, he speculated that the gas plant on Lakeland Drive at County Road 23 might have exploded, indicating that the "blast" would have been of major proportions.

Mrs. Duane Brown of rural New London said that she felt the tremor, and was "petrified." The refrigerator in her kitchen began moving, and everything in it was changing around, she said.

She also noted that she felt as if she was being "banged around."

Mrs. Arnie Peterson of rural Sunburg was upstairs in her home when the tremor struck. "The whole house shook," she said. A centennial plate hanging on an upstairs wall swung back and forth. "I didn't know what was going on," she added. "I was never so scared in my life."

Wondering if the disturbance was caused by something outside, she looked out the window and saw a tractor passing the farm, but couldn't believe that a tractor could cause that much disturbance. She didn't learn about the tremor until later in the day.

The center of the quake was located near Morris, where there were some reports of cracked foundations.

Mrs. Gordon Sordahl of Willmar, whose daughter lives in Clinton, talked to her daughter after the quake. The tremors were more severe in that area, and also frightened residents, who obviously wondered, "What's happening?"

Mrs. Sordahl's grandchildren reportedly came into the house crying because they were so frightened.

Locally, Willmar police report that they received only about 10 calls at the time of the earthquake, many from former California residents. The Californians reported that they knew immediately that the tremors were signs of an earthquake in the area.

One Montevideo resident who reported sensing the earthquake thought the disturbance was a malfunction in her air conditioner.

The historic tremor covered an area about 300 miles long and 180 miles wide.