Earthquake Update: Northeast Tremor Shakes New York City

TFD – Get the latest details on the earthquake that shook the Northeast, including impacts in New York City and safety measures.

An earthquake rattled buildings across parts of the Northeast Friday morning, according to the US Geological Survey, with reports of shaking being felt from Washington, DC to New York City to New England.

According to the New York Police Department, no injuries or damages were recorded.

According to USGS, the earthquake happened at 10:23 a.m. Around 10:30 a.m., the New York City Fire Department said that it received reports of buildings trembling.

The department issued a statement saying, “We are responding to calls and evaluating structural stability.” “At this time, there are no significant incidents.”

Minutes after the shaking ceased, astonished inhabitants in portions of the New York City area—where people are not used to earthquakes—poured out of tenements and row homes onto the sidewalks in front of their buildings.

Hoboken, New Jersey resident David Rodriguez claimed, “I felt the building shake after everything started vibrating.” “Until everything started wobbling, I believed it was a big vehicle outside. However, it made the sound of something swaying back and forth.

“I AM FINE” was posted on the Empire State Building’s X account.

Residents were startled once more by loud emergency notifications on their cell phones long after the earthquake had faded. An another notice, this time regarding aftershocks, was received at 11:46 a.m.

According to preliminary data indications from the USGS, harm would not likely result from the slight shaking. A 4.8 magnitude earthquake was first reported, however that was then changed to 4.7 and then back to 4.8. As more data is examined, this might alter once more.

The USGS reported that the epicenter was less than 50 miles west of New York City and somewhat northeast of Lebanon, New Jersey.

Because the minor earthquake was shallow—just 5 kilometers below the surface—it was easier for locals to notice the shaking. According to preliminary accounts, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and New York City all experienced widespread shaking.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there are flights to the Newark, Philadelphia, New York Kennedy, and Baltimore airports.

Following the earthquake, a controller overheard saying over the radio that the air traffic control tower at Newark Liberty airport was being evacuated. This meant that aircraft were being halted until the controllers relocated to a different location.

“For the time being, nobody is going anywhere,” a controller announced over the radio.

The runways were undergoing a damage inspection procedure. Controllers at LaGuardia were still scheduling flights for departure shortly after the earthquake.

Amtrak claimed that the earthquake was causing train operations to slow down.

“As of 11:05 a.m. ET, Amtrak has started its track inspection procedure in response to the 4.8 earthquake that struck New Jersey. Until all inspections are finished, speed limits have been put in place throughout the Northeast, according to a social media statement from Amtrak.

Bridge inspections following the earthquake could cause up to 20-minute delays in both directions for system-wide service, according to NJ Transit.

We will be updating this story as it develops.