A 4.7-magnitude earthquake shook the New York City Metro Area Friday morning, causing office workers to evacuate their buildings and creating a few moments of fear throughout the region.
The ground began to shake around 10:23 ET, with a rumble that lasted for several seconds. There were no immediate reports of injuries, according to NBC New York.
The United States Geological Service identified the epicenter in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, approximately 50 miles west of Central Park. However, the earthquake was felt as far east as Long Island, as far south as Philadelphia, and as far north as Connecticut.
It was uncertain right after the event whether any buildings had been damaged.
“I AM FINE,” the Empire State Building posted on X, and a few minutes later, stated that it is “business as usual” at the office tower and popular tourist destination.
“While we do not have any reports of major impacts at this time, we’re still assessing the impact,” New York City Mayor Eric Adam’s office posted.
“My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul posted.
While less common than in Western states, earthquakes are not unheard of in the Northeast. In 2023, New York experienced two earthquakes: a 3.8 magnitude quake upstate near West Seneca on Feb. 6 and a 3.6 quake on April 23 near Watertown.
In 2011, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in Virginia was felt as far north as Boston.
This is a developing story, more to come…
