- The earthquake was also felt in New Jersey, Virginia and Philadelphia
- The Friday morning quake centered near Lebanon, New Jersey
A 4.8 earthquake shook the densely populated New York City metropolitan area shortly before 11am Friday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The agency reported a quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7, centered near Lebanon, New Jersey. , about 50 miles west of New York City.
The Fire Department of New York said there were no initial reports of damage.
The epicenter of the quake was near Readington in Hunterdon County in NJ, per governor Phil Murphy.
The FAA has ordered ground stops at John F Kennedy and Newark International airports.
People in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Connecticut and other areas of the Northeast reported shaking. Tremors lasting for several seconds were felt over 200 miles away near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.
Social media users have shared posts about the earthquake, also felt in New Jersey, Virginia and Philadelphia.
In midtown Manhattan, the usual cacophony of traffic grew louder as motorists blared their horns on momentarily shuddering streets.
Some Brooklyn residents heard a booming sound and their building shaking. In an apartment house in Manhattan’s East Village, a resident from more earthquake-prone California calmed nervous neighbors.
New York state governor Kathy Hochul said: ‘A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit west of Manhattan and has been felt throughout New York.
‘My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day.’
Gov Hochul gave an update shortly before noon saying her office is in contact with all the relevant agencies to oversee any damage and structural integrity concerns and that the White House has offered aid.
Officials have not identified any life-threatening situations but have asked law enforcement teams to be on alert.
Hochul added: ‘We’re going to continue to take this seriously. Everyone should continue to take this seriously, if there is an aftershock people are encouraged to take cover and cover their necks.’
‘Please stay away from buildings, specially our high rises.’
President Biden has been briefed on the earthquake, per the White House.
Megyn Kelly posted on X that she felt it in Connecticut.
‘Did we just have an earthquake? (In CT),’ she wrote.
Actress Busy Phillips also posted about feeling the shake in NYC: ‘like guys. i think there was an earthquake in nyc.’
Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain wrote: ‘Did we just have an earthquake?! NYC’
Don Lemon added: ‘Totally just had an #earthquake in New York. Did you feel it?’
Meanwhile the X account for the Empire State building posted: ‘I am fine.’
A spokesperson for NYC Mayor Eric Adams said: ‘In case of an aftershock, drop to the floor, cover your head and neck, and take additional cover under a solid piece of furniture, next to an interior wall, or in a doorway. We will be updating the public very soon with additional updates.’
Video shared on social media showed the moment the earthquake was felt during a United Nations Security Council.
Astoria, Queens, experienced a 1.7 magnitude earthquake in January.
Experts had previously warned that NYC was long-overdue for a quake.
The city of 8.5 million people is not thought of as a tremor hot spot, but the five boroughs are riddled with fault lines that could bring dozens of buildings down.
New York statistically gets a quake like that every 100 years and the last one was in 1884 – making it well overdue for another.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
