A seismic event rattled the densely populated New York City metropolitan area on Friday, causing reports of shaking felt across the Northeast, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey.
The agency stated that the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 4.7 and was centered near Lebanon, New Jersey, about 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia.
Despite the strong tremors, the Fire Department of New York confirmed that there were no immediate reports of damage.
New York Mayor Eric Adams was briefed on the earthquake, and his spokesperson, Fabien Levy, commenting on the situation, said, “While we do not have any reports of major impacts at this time, we’re still assessing the impact.”
People in different areas felt the ground shaking, with some hearing loud noises and seeing buildings shake.
The earthquake was felt not just in New York City, but also in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Connecticut, and other East Coast areas that are not used to experiencing earthquakes.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul verified that the earthquake was felt across the state and mentioned that her team is currently evaluating any effects and damages, with more information to come later in the day.
