An estimated 4.8 magnitude earthquake just rattled New York City

An estimated 4.8 magnitude earthquake just rattled New York City

Geoff Weiss

A rare earthquake just outside New York City rattled the Tri-state area on Friday morning.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated the quake had a magnitude of 4.8, with an epicenter about 30 miles west of Newark, New Jersey.

The estimated 4.8 magnitude earthquake would be the third-biggest in recorded New Jersey history, and the largest in nearly 250 years, according to a 2018 report on earthquake mitigation.

The quake was felt up and down the East Coast with reports of shaking from Philadelphia to Boston.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the state is "assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred."

Ground stops have been issued at Newark Liberty International and JFK airports, according to the FAA, and flights bound for Newark airport were held Friday morning as workers inspected the runway for damage, according to Flightradar24.

While earthquakes in New York City are rare, North America is home to some of the world's biggest. There were 138 earthquakes across the world in the past week with a magnitude greater than 4.5, according to the USGS.

4.8 magnitude earthquake centered near New York City rattles much of the Northeast

The Associated Press

 An earthquake shook the densely populated New York City metropolitan area Friday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said, with residents across the Northeast reporting rumbling in a region where people are unaccustomed to feeling the ground move.

The agency reported a quake at 10:23 a.m. with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, centered near Lebanon, New Jersey, or about 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia. U.S.G.S. figures indicated that the quake might have been felt by more than 42 million people.

New York City’s emergency notification system said in a social media post more than 30 minutes after the quake that it had no reports of damage or injuries in the city. Mayor Eric Adams had been briefed on the quake, his spokesperson Fabien Levy said, adding, “While we do not have any reports of major impacts at this time, we’re still assessing the impact.”

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.

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.

NYC subway rider describes earthquake tremors: 'It was very scary'

Earthquake reported outside New York City; tremors felt in multiple states