The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has reported that a 4.8 magnitude earthquake has hit the New York City region. The quake— the strongest in the state’s history according to USA Today— shook buildings and surprised residents since the region rarely experiences earthquakes of this size.
According to reports, no significant damage to buildings or infrastructure has been reported. The earthquake’s epicenter was near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Other seismological centers, like the European Mediterranean Center, recorded it at 5.5.
The USGS reported that sensing equipment picked up the earthquake at 10:20 a.m. ET (14:20 GMT) at a depth of 2.9 miles (4.7 kilometers). Reuters reported that residents from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts felt tremors.
The last significant earthquake the region experienced was a 5.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Virginia in 2011. That particular earthquake prompted evacuations in New York City, including City Hall, and caused damage in Washington. That particular quake was the strongest for the region since 1897.
New York City residents felt the quake
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 is significant but not dangerous. Roughly half a million occur worldwide every year.
A 4.8 magnitude is towards the lower end of the Richter scale, with earthquake power increasing logarithmically as the scale increases. Earthquakes over the Richter scale of 8.0 are considered great earthquakes that can and will devastate cities near the epicenter.
For example, back in 2023, one of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria had a magnitude of roughly 7.8 and devasted some cities and towns in the region. According to New York City Police Department representatives, no report of any damage has been received in the city.
Charita Walcott, a 38-year-old resident in the Bronx borough of New York, said the quake felt “like a violent rumble that lasted about 30 seconds or so.”
“It was kind of like being in a drum circle, that vibration,” she added.
While addressing the Security Council on the Israel-Gaza conflict at the United Nations in midtown Manhattan, the CEO of “Save the Children” abruptly stopped speaking as cameras began to shake. “You’re making the ground shake,” Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour is reported as joking.
Flights have been delayed
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has informed airlines that flights to New York City airports will be delayed until noon due to the earthquake. The delays will be approximately 30-45 minutes.
According to FlightAware‘s tracking website, some flights headed for New York have been diverted to other airports. The FAA said, “Air traffic operations are resuming as quickly as possible.”
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that the busy Holland Tunnel has been closed temporarily. This tunnel is one of the three major Hudson River crossings between New York City and New Jersey.
The governors of New York and New Jersey have stated on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that they are taking emergency measures. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been informed about the situation, and according to his office’s statement, there are no reports of any major impacts at this time.
If you want to know more about the earthquake, the USGS has an open event page.
