The metropolis of New York and its surroundings were shaken by a rare earthquake this Friday morning. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.7, occurred near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, about 7 kilometers from New York City, and at a depth of 5 kilometers.
Although the tremor surprised residents of the area, no major damage or injuries were reported immediately. Local authorities quickly responded, assuring that they continued to assess the situation. New York Mayor Eric Adams reassured the population by stating that no major issues with people's safety or infrastructure had been observed so far.
The effects of the earthquake were felt as far as Baltimore, Philadelphia, Connecticut, and other regions of the northeastern United States. Witnesses described tremors lasting several seconds, even more than 310 kilometers from the epicenter.
Social media was flooded with messages recounting the shaking experience, while some meetings were interrupted, such as the UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
#Earthquake 4.8 felt at UN Headquarters New York ‼️ https://t.co/TWFLNyLZga pic.twitter.com/tKqSc2lwIU
— Pamela Falk Correspondent United Nations (@PamelaFalk) April 5, 2024
President Joe Biden was briefed on the event and is in contact with federal, state, and local authorities to monitor the situation's development. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul also reacted by announcing that her team was assessing the potential impacts of the earthquake and would provide updates to the public throughout the day.
This earthquake recalls the one that occurred on August 23, 2011, with a magnitude of 5.8, which had shaken a large part of the East Coast of the United States. Although earthquakes are less frequent in this region, they can still be felt over long distances due to the unique geological composition of the East Coast.
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