- The earthquake was also felt in New Jersey, Virginia and Philadelphia
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake shook the densely populated New York City metropolitan area Friday morning, the US Geological Survey said.
The agency reported an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7, centered near Lebanon, New Jersey. The New York Fire Department said there were no initial reports of damage.
Social media users shared posts about the earthquake, which was also felt in New Jersey, Virginia and Philadelphia.
In downtown Manhattan, the usual cacophony of traffic grew louder as motorists honked their horns through the temporarily shaking streets.
Some Brooklyn residents heard a booming sound and their building shook. At an apartment complex in Manhattan’s East Village, a resident from more earthquake-prone California calmed nervous neighbors.
This is a development story.
An earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale struck New York City on Friday morning
The earthquake was also felt in New Jersey, Virginia and Philadelphia
People in Baltimore, Philadelphia and other areas also reported feeling the ground shaking.
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 shock in New York: “like boys. I think there was an earthquake in New York.”
Oscar winner Jessica Chastain wrote: ‘Did we just have an earthquake?! NYC’
New York last experienced a major earthquake in 1884.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said: ‘A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck west of Manhattan and was felt throughout New York.
“My team is assessing the impact and any damage that may have occurred, and we will keep the public informed throughout the day.”
Experts had previously warned that NYC was already long overdue for an earthquake.
The city of 8.5 million is not considered an earthquake hotspot, but its five boroughs are riddled with fault lines that could collapse dozens of buildings.
