A magnitude 4.8 earthquake hit New York and New Jersey on Friday morning (local time), causing panic among residents.
The epicenter of the quake, which was felt from Philadelphia to New York, was located about 4.5 miles northeast of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, according to the US Geological Survey.
It is a seismic tremor that has created an effervescence in the wider region and has mobilized a series of mechanisms, as seismic activity is almost an unknown word for the region.
According to data from the US Geological Survey (USGS), this earthquake was the third largest recorded in the region in the last 50 years. This is also the reason why today’s earthquake caused so much panic among the residents.
How rare are magnitude 5 earthquakes in the New York area?
Officials of the US Geodynamic Institute (USGS) when briefing journalists about today’s earthquake were to give an insight into how rare these events are in this region.
The team of Institute officials explained how, during the past 300 years, there have been only three earthquakes with a magnitude near or greater than 5 that have occurred near New York.
- 19 December 1737: A 5.1-magnitude earthquake shook chimneys when it struck the greater New York area and was also felt in parts of Boston and Philadelphia, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
- November 30, 1783: More than 100 years later, another magnitude 5.1 earthquake was felt in New Jersey, and people reported feeling the tremors all the way from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania
- August 10, 1884: This magnitude 5.3 earthquake was the last to hit the New York area with a magnitude greater than 5.
Six key points about the 4.8 magnitude earthquake
The epicenter of the earthquake was in Lebanon, New Jersey, according to the US Geological Survey, about 40 miles from New York.
- Residents described their houses shaking and their furniture swaying during the tremor.
- In a briefing, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said “no life-threatening conditions have been reported” and warned citizens to prepare for possible aftershocks.
- Unusually large earthquake disrupts air traffic at major airports in the US Northeast – but flights have now resumed
- There are reports of cracks in sidewalks and roads, but no extensive damage has been reported and New York City schools have been told they are operating normally
Jessica Jobe, of the USGS, says today’s quake may have occurred on a branch of an old fault that had been “reactivated”.
“Although there are no known active faults in the area, there are dozens of older inactive faults that formed millions of years ago,” she says at a briefing where reporters are now asking questions.
“And under the current pressures from the movement of tectonic plates these faults can be reactivated intermittently.”
He adds that earthquakes “can happen anywhere at any time.”
There is little chance of aftershocks
There is a 3 percent chance of aftershocks of magnitude 5 or greater in the next week — and up to three weeks — related to this earthquake, US Geological Survey officials say.
They add that some aftershocks have already been recorded, but do not give further details about them.
Social media after the Enceladus impact
Earthquake… the rare Enceladus shock of 4.8 on the Richter scale that occurred earlier today on the East Coast of the United States centered on New Jersey has caused social media.
The tremor, which was felt in several major cities in the region, including New York, Philadelphia and Boston, initially caused concern among residents who are not used to such earthquakes, and briefly interrupted a meeting of the UN Security Council, which was in progress
🚨UN Security Council meeting interrupted due to #earthquake in Northern NJ pic.twitter.com/75W2mf8rJs
— Kento Yamazaki (Fan Account) (@kentooyamazak_i) April 5, 2024
But the panic then gave way to light-hearted commentary and coarse trolling.
Enjoy responsibly:
I just photos of the destruction out in Long Island.
Magnitude 4.8 #earthquake pic.twitter.com/cNdwAj88s3
— Nick Yoder (@NickYoder86) April 5, 2024
me not knowing where to run after the earthquake #earthquake pic.twitter.com/PkwKRjo4MA
— left on seen (@Imakemyownshit) April 5, 2024
Like & Retweet if you survived the #earthquake #NYC pic.twitter.com/7V5JUT9jZb
— Brian (@HNICBrian) April 5, 2024
#earthquake felt in New York. Did anyone noticed? Hope everyone will safe 🤲🫶 pic.twitter.com/GlrgalDXI7
— ON VIN 🙂 BroSena❤ 🚩 (@vinsaa96) April 5, 2024
The statue of Liberty 🗽 right tf now #earthquake pic.twitter.com/VbpyGUMmAQ
— 😈✨DA BADDEST✨😈 (@Mr__Shakiira) April 5, 2024
why did nyc just shake ?? #earthquake pic.twitter.com/CtTi07Fbe9
— jae jae (@jaeuch1ha) April 5, 2024
— Dad Joke Pro 🇺🇦 #NAFO (@ayden1024) Download, Listen and View free Dad Joke Pro 🇺🇦 MP3, Video and Lyrics April 5, 2024
Read also:
#magnitude #earthquake #sow #panic #York
