On Friday morning, a powerful earthquake shook the surrounding area and New York City.
The incident took at around 10:20 a.m.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that the earthquake, which had a magnitude of either 4.7 or 4.8, was centred close to Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, which is 40 miles west of New York City.
There haven’t been any reports of damage thus far.
The Tri-State Area as a whole was affected, including upstate in Syracuse, Philadelphia, and even as far away as Baltimore. From New Jersey to Long Island, reports of rattling and vibrating structures were received.
New Jersey’s Emergency Operations Centre has been launched, according to Governor Phil Murphy, who also advised citizens not to use 911 unless they are truly suffering an emergency.
According to the MTA, every bridge and tunnel in the New York City region is being inspected. As of for now, no damage has been reported.
“My apartment block began to shake while I was lying in bed. One New York City resident told Elijah Westbrook of CBS New York, “I started freaking out.”
There were evident wall cracks in an apartment in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.
The East Coast and New York City have experienced earthquakes before. In 1884, a 5.0 earthquake was recorded in New York City.
The Appalachian Mountains are the source of the major fault line known as the Ramapo Fault in New Jersey. Additionally, Manhattan Island is underpinned by at least five smaller fault lines.
The USGS issued a warning a few months ago that devastating earthquakes may strike over 75% of the US in the next 100 years.
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Virginia in 2011 shook the whole East Coast.
