A 4.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, shook the New York City metropolitan area and beyond on Friday morning. The quake, which struck at 10:23 a.m., was the strongest to hit the region in over a century. While no injuries or major structural damage were reported in NYC, the tremor was felt across the tri-state area, reaching as far as Maryland and Maine. The shallow depth of the earthquake, only 2.9 miles, contributed to its widespread impact, with an estimated 42 million people feeling the tremors.
The epicenter, located approximately 40 miles west of New York City, was close enough to send shockwaves through the city’s buildings and streets. Many New Yorkers reported feeling a shaking sensation, while some mistook it for passing subways or construction activity. The unexpected event triggered a flurry of phone calls and social media activity as people sought to confirm the earthquake and check on loved ones.
Following the initial quake, a 4.0 magnitude aftershock struck the same area of New Jersey just before 6 p.m. While significantly deeper than the first quake, at 5.6 miles, the aftershock further underscored the day’s seismic activity. Experts from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) warned of the possibility of further aftershocks in the coming week, advising people to “drop, cover, and hold on” in the event of another tremor.
Magnitude comparison between the initial earthquake and the aftershock
Despite the initial panic, the city’s infrastructure held up well. New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered immediate damage assessments of state roads, transmission lines, and dams, but no significant issues were found. Similarly, New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed no reported damage to buildings, infrastructure, or essential services. JFK and Newark airports briefly implemented ground stops to inspect runways, but operations quickly resumed after no damage was detected.
The earthquake disrupted daily life in various ways. A meeting at the United Nations was briefly interrupted, and the New York Philharmonic’s morning performance was punctuated by earthquake alerts on cell phones. Schools reassured parents that students were safe, and dismissal proceeded as scheduled. The Department of Buildings will continue to monitor for any delayed structural issues in the city’s buildings.
While rare in the New York City area, this earthquake serves as a reminder of the region’s seismic vulnerability. Historical records indicate that stronger earthquakes have occurred in the past, though not recently. The last earthquake of comparable magnitude to strike near New York City was in 1884.
The widespread impact of the earthquake extended throughout the Northeast, with reports of shaking coming from as far away as Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Connecticut. Even residents near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border, over 200 miles from the epicenter, felt the tremors.
Though unsettling, the earthquake highlighted the resilience of New York City and its surrounding areas. The lack of significant damage and injuries underscores the effectiveness of building codes and emergency preparedness measures. While aftershocks remain a possibility, life in the city has largely returned to normal, with officials continuing to monitor the situation closely.
