Earlier this morning, residents of New York City and the surrounding areas experienced an earthquake that officials are so far measuring as 4.8 on the Richter scale. Though this is thankfully on the milder side of things, as earthquakes go, it’s a rarity in this part of the world.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) puts the epicenter of the quake close to the borough of Lebanon, New Jersey, about 64 kilometers (40 miles) east of the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and 72 kilometers (45 miles) west of New York City. It occurred at a depth of 4.7 kilometers (2.9 miles) and hit at approximately 10.23 am local time (2.23 pm UTC).
According to AP, shaking was felt as far away as Baltimore and Philadelphia, and a number of residents of Brooklyn and Manhattan were alarmed by loud booming sounds and shuddering. USGS explains that a magnitude 4.0 earthquake in the eastern US can typically be felt as far away as 100 kilometers (60 miles), so it’s unsurprising that reports are coming in from further afield.
While seismic activity is not a daily concern for most New Yorkers, AP reports that a native of California – where earthquakes are far more commonplace – was fortunately on hand to help calm neighbors in one Manhattan apartment building.
At this time, no major damage or injuries have been reported, and no tsunami warnings are in place. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul posted on X that her team had already begun assessing the situation and would provide updates throughout the day. Local residents – including a few famous faces – have also been sharing their experiences online.
If you’re in the region and felt the earthquake, you can make a report to the USGS.
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