A 4.8-magnitude earthquake rattled New York City and the surrounding area on Friday morning.
The quake which the USGS has said was either 4.7 or 4.8 – was centred near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, 40 miles west of New York City, according to the US Geological Survey.
So far, there have been no reports of damage.
The impact was felt throughout the Tri-State Area, including upstate in Syracuse, as well as in Philadelphia and as far away as Baltimore. Reports of buildings shaking and rattling came in from New Jersey to Long Island.
New York Governor, Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Adams have been briefed on the quake.
“We’re taking this extremely seriously and here’s why. There’s always the possibility of aftershocks. We have not felt the magnitude of this earthquake since about 2011,” Hochul said.
“My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day,” Hochul wrote on X.
Hochul stressed the seriousness of the quake but said “no life-threatening situations” have been identified yet, adding that her team was reviewing the state’s infrastructure.
She also said residents should stay away from high rises, and if they hear shifting or unusual noises, they should leave their homes.
Governor Phil Murphy said New Jersey has activated its Emergency Operations Center, and urged residents to not call 911 unless they are experiencing an actual emergency.
The quake caused temporary ground stops at John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty International Airport. There were delays as well as LaGuardia as crews check for damage to the airports and runways.
It’s not the first time the East Coast and New York City have been hit with a quake. A 5.0 quake was measured in New York City in 1884.
There’s a major fault in New Jersey called the Ramapo Fault, which stems from the Appalachian mountains, and there are at least five smaller fault lines under Manhattan Island.
The quake comes just a few months after the USGS warned nearly 75% of the United States could face damaging quakes in the next 100 years.
In 2011, a 5.8 quake struck in Virginia and rattled the entire East Coast.
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