An earthquake struck the U.S. East Coast Friday morning, shaking buildings and jolting nerves from Maryland to Maine, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The USGS measured the quake as a magnitude 4.8 earthquake with an epicenter near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. It happened shortly before 10:30 a.m. ET.
There are no initial reports of major damage.
James Pittinger, mayor of Lebanon, New Jersey, called the earthquake “the craziest thing I've ever experienced.” In an interview with MSNBC, he said there have been no reports of serious damage so far, but added that the shaking caused his dog to run away and items to fall off shelves.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the quake was felt throughout the state.
“My team is assessing the impact and any damage that may have occurred and will be available to the public throughout the day,” she said. I wrote to X.
New York City Deputy Mayor Fabian Levy said there were no reports of major impacts in the city after the quake.
Ground stop orders were issued at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's website.
The Port Authority Transportation Authority, which operates a rapid transit route between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, suspended service due to the earthquake.
“Crews meticulously inspect the line health,” says PATCO mentioned in the X update. “We will resume service as soon as testing is complete. There is no time limit. Future updates.”
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority said that although service was not affected, teams would be inspecting the rail lines. The New Jersey Department of Transportation warned riders of a 20-minute delay due to bridge inspections following the earthquake.
Earthquakes are rare in the northeastern United States, but in February 2023, a magnitude 3.8 earthquake occurred in Buffalo, New York. This was the largest earthquake recorded in the region in 40 years.
In 2017, a magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck the tri-state region with an epicenter near Little Creek, Delaware, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. And before that, in 2011, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake centered in central Virginia that was felt across much of the East Coast and forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate buildings in New York, Washington, and other cities. I was forced to.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy Said in X's post The state activated its emergency response center and asked people not to call 911 unless there is an emergency situation.
This is a developing story. Please check back for the latest information.
