Disturbing my afternoon nap

So there I was, 3:20 in the afternoon, breaking in my couch for its first afternoon nap. I had just dozed off while watching an episode of Seinfeld (on DVD). And it happened. A good shaking, combined with rumbling. My silverware in the kitchen, which hangs from its holder, started rattling and clinking. I was completely caught off guard, but it didn't take long to realize I was experiencing my first earthquake!

The US Geological Service (USGS) put the initial rating at 5.8 on the Richter Scale, and they located the epicenter near Valparaiso, a coastal city about 75 miles NW of Santiago (where I live). The shaking here lasted for about 15 seconds (give or take, considering I was asleep when it started and took probably five seconds to realize what was happening). We've had probably 5 other noticeable aftershocks, none lasting more than a few seconds, but definitely noticeable.

I don't know how to tell if Valparaiso (or the nearby city of Vina del Mar) had damage ... hopefully a 5.8 earthquake is too weak to cause damage. I don't know the decay rate of earthquake waves as they travel through rock, but I seriously doubt if in Santiago we had even 5.0 shaking... but again, this was my first quake.

Anyway, I'm okay, and tonight am off to celebrate with some friends from spanish class (assuming the Metros are running still). Tomorrow I'm going with my spanish professor to the local football match: La U vs Colo Colo. I have no idea what to expect... both teams are local to Santiago, and the stadium could be filled with crazy Santiagians loudly cheering on their team. Regardless, it should be quite an experience (just like this earthquake!)

** Update **
I found this description of the pre-Richter earthquake scale. I would put what I felt somewhere around IV. Again, ratings on this scale do not correspond to Richter.

The following is an abbreviated description of the 12 levels of Modified Mercalli intensity.

I. Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable conditions.

II. Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors of buildings.

III. Felt quite noticeably by persons indoors, especially on upper floors of buildings. Many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibrations similar to the passing of a truck. Duration estimated.

IV. Felt indoors by many, outdoors by few during the day. At night, some awakened. Dishes, windows, doors disturbed; walls make cracking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing motor cars rocked noticeably.

V. Felt by nearly everyone; many awakened. Some dishes, windows broken. Unstable objects overturned. Pendulum clocks may stop.

VI. Felt by all, many frightened. Some heavy furniture moved; a few instances of fallen plaster. Damage slight.

VII. Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken.

VIII. Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse. Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned.

IX. Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb. Damage great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations.

X. Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed with foundations. Rails bent.

XI. Few, if any (masonry) structures remain standing. Bridges destroyed. Rails bent greatly.

XII. Damage total. Lines of sight and level are distorted. Objects thrown into the air.