On Friday, the US Geological Survey announced that a 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit the New York City area. This earthquake, initially thought to be 5.5 magnitude by the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, happened near Lebanon, New Jersey, which is about 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia. The Fire Department of New York didn’t receive any immediate reports of damage from the earthquake.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that the earthquake was felt throughout the state. She assured the public that her team is assessing any impacts or damages caused by the quake and will provide updates as needed.
A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit west of Manhattan and has been felt throughout New York.
My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 5, 2024
Deputy Mayor of New York City, Fabien Levy, stated that there have been no significant reports of damage or effects on the city. Despite the tremors, the city seemed to have avoided major incidents.
Our region just experienced an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7, with an epicenter near Readington in Hunterdon County.
We have activated our State Emergency Operations Center. Please do not call 911 unless you have an actual emergency. https://t.co/Szt5fWyIs9
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 5, 2024
UNSC Meeting Suspended, Empire State Building Unaffected
Following the earthquake, a Security Council meeting discussing the situation in Gaza at the United Nations was briefly suspended. During the meeting, a spokeswoman for Save the Children, Janti Soeripto, inquired if the tremors were caused by an earthquake.
Social media users reported feeling the tremors from Long Island to Philadelphia, with various accounts of the quake’s effects. In a reassuring post on its official account, the iconic Empire State Building declared, “I AM FINE,” indicating that it was undamaged by the earthquake.
Residents React Across Cities
Reports emerged of tremors being felt from Washington, DC to New York City, prompting residents to take to the streets in response. The New York Police Department confirmed that there were no reports of injuries or significant damages in the wake of the earthquake.
The New York City Fire Department stated that they were responding to calls and assessing the structural stability of buildings. Despite some reports of shaking structures, there were no major incidents reported at the time.
Residents in certain parts of New York City shared their experiences, with Hoboken, New Jersey resident David Rodriguez describing the sensation as vibrations followed by building shaking. He initially mistook the tremors for a large truck passing by until he noticed the swaying motion, reminiscent of something moving from side to side.
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