A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck near New York City on Friday morning, shaking buildings up and down the East Coast and surprising residents in an area that rarely experiences notable seismic activity.
The quake's epicenter was in Tewksbury in central New Jersey, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of New York City. It occurred just after 10:20 a.m. ET (1420 GMT) at a depth of 4.7 kilometers (2.9 miles), the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
Later that day, at 5:59 p.m., a small but noticeable aftershock measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale was felt by many in the region.
No major damage was reported, but engineering teams are currently inspecting roads and bridges to ensure everyone's safety.
\"This is one of the largest earthquakes on the East Coast in the last century,\" New York Governor Kathy Hochul said at a news conference.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams assured residents that no injuries had been reported but urged everyone to take cover under furniture, in a doorway, or next to an interior wall if they felt aftershocks. \"New Yorkers should go about their normal day,\" he added.
People from Baltimore to Boston reported feeling rumbling and shaking, with some running outside to detect the source of the quake.
Charita Walcott, a 38-year-old resident in the Bronx, described the experience as \"like a violent rumble that lasted about 30 seconds or so.\" She added, \"It was kind of like being in a drum circle, that vibration.\"
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