On Friday morning, a rare earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 struck just outside New York City, with its epicenter located about 30 miles west of Newark, New Jersey. The quake was felt across the tristate area and as far south as Norfolk, Virginia, and as far north as Boston and Maine.
Despite the widespread shaking, USGS seismologist Paul Earle described the earthquake as relatively small, lasting only a second or two. He also warned of the possibility of smaller aftershocks in the area, with a small chance of another earthquake of similar or larger magnitude occurring in the future.
Governors Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Kathy Hochul of New York both activated emergency response centers to assess any potential damage caused by the earthquake. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries in New York City, and both Newark Liberty International and John F. Kennedy airports experienced ground stops for inspections, but quickly resumed operations.
While earthquakes in New York City are rare, North America has experienced significant earthquakes in the past, with the last major quake hitting the East Coast in 2011 in Virginia. The recent earthquake near New York City is one of over 130 earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 4.5 that have occurred worldwide in the past week.
In conclusion, while the earthquake near New York City may have caused some brief disruption and concern, the overall impact appears to have been minimal. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and are advising residents to be prepared for any potential aftershocks.