A magnitude 4.8 earthquake centered near Lebanon, New Jersey, shakes the New York City metropolitan area and the broader Northeast, affecting millions unaccustomed to such events. Officials report no immediate damage or injuries as assessments continue.
On Friday morning, an earthquake startled the residents of the densely populated New York City metropolitan area, an occurrence reported by the U.S. Geological Survey and felt across the Northeast.
This event is notable in a region where earthquakes are rare, creating an unusual experience for many.
The quake, occurring at 10:23 a.m., was preliminarily measured at a magnitude of 4.8. Its epicenter was identified near Lebanon, New Jersey, roughly 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia.
It’s estimated that the tremors could have been felt by over 42 million people according to U.S.G.S. data. Despite the widespread feeling of the quake, New York City’s emergency notification system reported no damage or injuries over 30 minutes following the event.
Mayor Eric Adams was promptly informed about the earthquake, with spokesperson Fabien Levy stating, “While we do not have any reports of major impacts at this time, we’re still assessing the impact.”
The quake briefly interrupted the daily life in midtown Manhattan, intensifying the city’s noise as drivers honked their horns more than usual during the tremors.
In Brooklyn, residents reported hearing a boom and feeling their buildings shake, while in Manhattan’s East Village, a Californian accustomed to earthquakes reassured their uneasy neighbors.
A lower Manhattan coffee shop experienced a stir among its customers as the quake caused dishware to rattle and the building to shake, leading barista India Hays to express her disbelief at the occurrence: “I thought surely there couldn’t be an earthquake here.”
The tremors reached as far as Baltimore, Philadelphia, Connecticut, and even near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border, affecting areas over 200 miles away from the epicenter.
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York acknowledged the widespread feeling of the quake across the state and mentioned that assessments for impacts and damages were ongoing. In response to the seismic activity, Philadelphia police urged the public only to use 911 for emergencies, while Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro indicated that state officials were keeping an eye on the situation. Connecticut officials, meanwhile, had not received any damage reports.
This quake reminded many of the August 23, 2011, earthquake that affected millions from Georgia to Canada, the strongest to hit the East Coast since World War II, with its epicenter in Virginia.
That event caused notable damage, including cracks in the Washington Monument and prompted evacuations of significant buildings, occurring just weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
Source: APNews
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