Event:
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake, the most powerful since 1897, strikes near Mineral, Virginia, causing a shut down of a nearby nuclear reactor
More Notable Events on August 23:
1990 U.S. begins call up of 46,000 reservists to the Persian Gulf
1973 Intelsat communications satellite launched
1968 Ringo quits Beatles over a disagreement, temporarily
1839 British capture Hong Kong from China
1821 Mexico declares independence
