A 4.8 magnitude earthquake centered in New Jersey rattled New York City and surrounding areas on Friday morning, causing buildings to shake and briefly halting air traffic. Although no significant damage was reported, residents felt the tremors as far north as Maine and as far south as Virginia.
The earthquake, occurring around 5 miles north of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, disrupted a United Nations Security Council meeting and briefly paused flight operations at airports including La Guardia, Philadelphia, and Newark. Despite the rarity of earthquakes on the East Coast, this event was described by locals as one of the strongest in New Jersey’s history.
Following the quake, a 4.0 magnitude aftershock occurred hours later, with an epicenter near Gladstone, New Jersey. Emergency officials urged residents to remain cautious and prepared for potential aftershocks.
US President Joe Biden was briefed on the earthquake, and state authorities, including New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, reassured the public that the situation was under control. Scientists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) emphasized the importance of citizen reports to better understand the impact of earthquakes in less seismically active regions.
Despite the widespread effects of the earthquake, no major disruptions or damages were reported, highlighting the unique nature of seismic events along the East Coast.
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