Earthquake rattles New Jersey, New York and other parts of the Northeast (2024)

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6:17 p.m. ET, April 5, 2024

4.0 magnitude aftershock recorded in New Jersey, USGS says

From CNN's BrandonMiller

An aftershock of a preliminary magnitude 4.0 has struck just southwest of Gladstone, New Jersey, according to the United States Geological Survey.

It happened at about 5:59 p.m. ET, USGS said.

The aftershock comes nearly 8 hours after the main shock of 4.8 magnitude this morning. There have been at least 10 aftershocks, though most were in the 1.8 to 2.2 magnitude range.

5:28 p.m. ET, April 5, 2024

No injuries or major damage in Northeast after morning quake in New Jersey. What to know to get caught up

From CNN staff

Earthquake rattles New Jersey, New York and other parts of the Northeast (1)

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake rattled buildings across parts of the US Northeast on Friday morning, according to the US Geological Survey,with tremors felt from Washington, DC to New York City and to Maine.

It was the third-largest earthquake recorded in the area in the last five decades and the strongest in New Jersey in more than 240 years, the USGS said.But with authorities reporting little or no damage, and minimal travel disruptions, people soon resumed their everyday lives.

Here's what to know:

  • New Jersey: Gov. Phil Murphy said there are limited reports of damage and "little to no injuries" in the state. The USGS recorded at least six aftershocks in the immediate area of the initial earthquake. In an area more than 30 miles from the epicenter, three neighboring homes in Newark were evacuated after residents reported structural damage, according to Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé.
  • New York: Gov. Kathy Hochul said there were no "life-threateningsituations" after the earthquake and no reports of damaged buildings. There was one report of a gas lineleak, but so far there's no “major” infrastructure impact, state officials said. New York City Mayor Eric Adams also said there have not been any reports of injuries and told people to "go about their normal day." Additionally, all aspects of the New York City transit system were operating safely, said Metropolitan Transport Authority CEO Janno Lieber.
  • Philadelphia: The Philadelphia Police Department received "over 200 calls" from 911 "in a very short period of 20 minutes," following the earthquake, according to Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel.But, there were no injuries reported in the city, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said.
  • Connecticut: State officials did not report any significant damage. Emergency management officials said their operations center was partially activated as agencies inspected key infrastructure points.
  • Travel: Runways at the three main airports servicing the New York City area were inspected and cleared, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Port Authority also said there were no operational or physical impacts to the bridges and tunnels. Amtrak said its trains were running at normal speeds after restrictions were put in place for track inspections.
  • Widespread impact: The shaking was felt by millions of people across hundreds of miles of the Northeast — a phenomenon made more likely by a few factors, including the geology of the region itself, according to the USGS. Rocks in the eastern US are much older, denser and harder, making them more efficient conduits of the seismic energy released by an earthquake, allowing it to travel in a more potent form over longer distances, the USGS says.
4:04 p.m. ET, April 5, 2024

Amtrak trains resume running at normal speeds

From CNN's Pete Muntean

Amtrak trains are back to operating at normal speeds after an earthquake in New Jersey on Friday, the company said.

It said it started inspecting its tracks shortly after 11 a.m. ET, and put speed restrictions in place throughout the region. Amtrak said it has now completed those inspections.

“As of 3:30 PM ET, All inspections have been completed and service has been restored to normal speed. Residual delays should be expected,” Amtrakpostedon X.
4:04 p.m. ET, April 5, 2024

At least 6 aftershocks recorded following New Jersey earthquake, USGS reports

From CNN’s Samantha Beech, Brandon Miller and Taylor Ward

There have been at least six aftershocks in the hours following the New Jersey earthquake Friday morning, according to United States Geological Survey data.

The initial earthquake was felt in northern New Jersey just before 10:30 a.m. ET, and the aftershocks were all recorded in the immediate area of the earthquake, USGS said.

According to USGS, the largest of the six aftershocks was 2.2 magnitude, recorded just after 1:30 p.m. ET.

Here's a timeline (all times are ET):

  • 10:23 a.m.: The initial 4.8 magnitude earthquake occurred
  • 11:20 a.m.: 2.0 magnitude aftershock
  • 11:37 a.m.: 1.8 magnitude aftershock
  • 11:49 a.m.: 2.0 magnitude aftershock
  • 12:31 p.m.: 1.8 magnitude aftershock
  • 1:14 p.m.: 2.0 magnitude aftershock
  • 1:32 p.m.: 2.2 magnitude aftershock

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a social media post that "aftershocks of these size are normal and are not expected to cause further damage."

The governor said there have been no reports of injuries or damage.

2:35 p.m. ET, April 5, 2024

See how people in the Northeast reacted when the earthquake hit

From CNN's Jeremy Moorhead and Sean Clark

When an earthquake rattled buildings across the Northeast Friday morning, stunned residents described initially thinking a passing tractor-trailer or freight train was passing them before they realized it was something more.

There were reports of the 4.8 magnitude quake being felt from Philadelphia to New York City, according to the US Geological Survey.

See how some people reacted:

2:19 p.m. ET, April 5, 2024

3 neighboring homes in New Jersey evacuated after reporting structural damage, offical says

From CNN’s Nic F. Anderson and David Goldman

Three neighboring homes in Newark, New Jersey, have been evacuated after residents reported structural damage following this morning’s earthquake, according to the local public safety director.

Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé told CNN no injuries have been reported after firefighters responded to reports of damage at the homes in an area more than 30 miles from the earthquake’s epicenter.

He said 10 families were relocated from the buildings, including 25 adults and three children.

Fragé added that all Newark city buildings, including City Hall and recreation centers, are closed. He said the city is inspecting buildings for any potential damage and power outages.

Also in New Jersey’s Essex County, in Montclair, officials believe the earthquake caused a water main break, according to an update from the Office of Emergency Management for the Township of Montclair. The OEM said the water bureau is working to repair the line.

The Montclair OEM said authorities have conducted a damage assessment of the township and there are no signs of damage to the infrastructure and all schools and municipal properties report no damage.

2:56 p.m. ET, April 5, 2024

Today's earthquake was the strongest in New Jersey in more than 240 years

From CNN's Elliana Hebert, Sara Tonks and Eric Zerkel

Earthquake rattles New Jersey, New York and other parts of the Northeast (2)

The rare 4.8 earthquake that struck northern New Jersey Friday was the third-strongest to strike the state, according to CNN analysis of US Geological Survey data.

The Friday morning earthquake also marked the strongest since 1783, more than 240 years ago. Two 5.1 magnitude temblors are the only stronger quakes in the state — one in 1755 and another in 1783. Both happened before New Jersey became a state in December 1787, but happened in the geographic area that now comprises the state's boundaries.

The quake is the third-strongest to hit the Northeast in 50 years and the 10th-strongest of all time in the region, USGS data shows.

Earthquakes in New Jersey and the region are rare. There have only been 24 earthquakes of 2.5 magnitude or greater in New Jersey since 1700.

1:19 p.m. ET, April 5, 2024

All aspects of New York City transit system operating safely after earthquake, MTA chief says

From CNN's SamanthaBeech

All aspects of the New York City transit system are operating safely following this morning’s earthquake, the Metropolitan Transport Authority, which runs the city's subway and other forms of public transit, said.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said every part of the transit system operated safely during the earthquake, as well.

He said initial facility inspections have been completed, including inspections of the seven bridges the MTA operate.

“I want to emphasize those were designed to withstand much stronger seismic impact than we experienced today,” he added.

According to theMTA website, MTA Bridges and Tunnels (B&T) serves more than 900,000 vehicles on an average day. In 2019, it carried more traffic than any bridge and tunnel authority in the nation — more than 329 million vehicles, the MTA says.

Lieber said MTA frontline staff have been directed to report any abnormalities in the system, but he said nothing had been flagged so far.

1:38 p.m. ET, April 5, 2024

There's a low likelihood of aftershocks following today's quake, New York City's emergency chief says

From CNN staff

Earthquake rattles New Jersey, New York and other parts of the Northeast (3)

There is a low likelihood of aftershocks following Friday's 4.8 magnitude earthquake that rattled several Northeast cities, New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol said.

Iscol, however, urged New Yorkers to remain vigilant.

“If you are outside during an aftershock, please move to an open area, away from buildings, trees and power lines. If you are driving, pull over to a safe location," he said at a news conference Friday alongside New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Iscol said there were no major impacts or safety events related to the earthquake, and added that New Yorkers can call 311 to report any damage.

The quake, he said, triggered the activation of the city's emergency response teams and prompted officials to issue guidance to the public.

“We activated our protocols for this earthquake, we immediately began coordinating with all city, state, federal and our utility partners. Public notifications were sent out both by Notify NYC and our wireless emergency alert system,” he said.
Earthquake rattles New Jersey, New York and other parts of the Northeast (2024)

FAQs

Earthquake rattles New Jersey, New York and other parts of the Northeast? ›

For most of the millions of people who felt the magnitude-4.8 earthquake that sent tremors from Philadelphia to Boston on Friday morning, it was a harmless novelty in a part of the country unaccustomed to seismic shaking. But the rattling shook buildings in New York City and drove startled residents into the streets.

Do New York and New Jersey get earthquakes? ›

How often do New York City and the East Coast get earthquakes? Earthquakes large enough to be felt by a lot of people are relatively uncommon on the East Coast. Since 1950 there have been about 20 quakes with a magnitude above 4.5, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Did an earthquake hit New Jersey? ›

Weeks after a magnitude 4.8 earthquake in New Jersey was felt up and down the Mid-Atlantic United States and after dozens of aftershocks and some smaller quakes, another earthquake has rattled New Jersey.

Did an earthquake in NJ cause damage? ›

Minor damage was reported across the region, including gas leaks in the town at the quake's epicenter and a water main break. Some homes in New Jersey were deemed unsafe due to possible earthquake damage.

Where is the epicenter of the earthquake in the Northeast? ›

The epicenter of the quake was detected about 45 miles west of New York City, and 40 miles east of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in an area north of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, according to the USGS.

Is NYC in danger of earthquakes? ›

“We know that there have been moderate and strong earthquakes in this region in the past, which means there will likely be moderate or strong earthquakes in the future,” says Wendy Bohon, an independent earthquake geologist. “The amount of damage those quakes cause depends on how prepared we are for them.”

Is New Jersey an earthquake zone? ›

Earthquakes are most likely to occur in the northern parts of New Jersey, where significant faults are concentrated; however, low-magnitude events can and do occur in many other areas of the State.

What year did the 9.5 earthquake happen? ›

On May 22, 1960 a great Mw 9.5 earthquake, the largest earthquake ever instrumentally recorded, occurred off the coast of southern Chile. This earthquake generated a tsunami that was destructive not only along the coast of Chile, but also across the Pacific in Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippines.

Where did a 9.0 earthquake happen? ›

The magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck at 2:46 pm. (The early estimate of magnitude 8.9 was later revised upward.) The epicentre was located some 80 miles (130 km) east of the city of Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, and the focus occurred at a depth of 18.6 miles (about 30 km) below the floor of the western Pacific Ocean.

Is NJ on a fault line? ›

Although there are many faults in New Jersey, the Ramapo Fault, which separates the Piedmont and Highlands Physiographic Provinces, is the best known (see last figure).

What was the worst earthquake in New Jersey history? ›

On November 29, 1783, at 3:50 a.m. (UTC−5), a Mfa 5.3 earthquake occurred in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It was the state's first recorded seismic event. It is estimated that the quake was the largest and strongest that the state has ever recorded.

Is New Jersey on a tectonic plate? ›

New Jersey, like west TN, KY, Arkansas, and Missouri does not sit near the border of a tectonic plate. BUT, it does sit on top of actually several fault lines. The largest, is the "Ramapo" Fault which stretches from Reading, PA to about Westchester County, New York.

What state had the worst earthquake? ›

Not only is Alaska the most seismically-active state, it also is where the largest earthquake to ever strike the U.S . occurred—a magnitude 9.2 shaker in 1964. According to Groundworks, citing data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), quakes are a fact of life in Alaska.

Is New York on a fault line? ›

An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the ground caused when two blocks of earth slip past each other beneath the surface. Although New York City does not sit on a major fault line, earthquakes can and have affected our area, and residents should be prepared.

How far north was the New Jersey earthquake felt? ›

The earthquake was centered near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, and shook buildings from Philadelphia to New Jersey and New York City to Connecticut and Westchester, New York. It could be felt as far south as Washington, D.C., and as far north as Maine, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

What city in New Jersey was the earthquake in? ›

Shake intensity

The temblor happened at 10:23 a.m. Eastern about 4 miles north of Whitehouse Station, N.J., data from the agency shows. As seismologists review available data, they may revise the earthquake's reported magnitude.

Is it possible for New York to get earthquakes? ›

The area within 100km radius of New York City has an intermediate level of seismic activity, more than what is observed in central New York State. It is not as seismically active as California which is located at a transform plate boundary, but large and damaging earthquakes do occur.

Has there ever been an earthquake in New York State? ›

For western New York, the biggest events have been a 1929 earthquake about 25 miles east of Buffalo, with ML of 4.7, and events in Attica of ML 4.3 and 4.1, in 1966 and 1967, respectively.

Is New Jersey on a fault line? ›

Although there are many faults in New Jersey, the Ramapo Fault, which separates the Piedmont and Highlands Physiographic Provinces, is the best known (see last figure).

What states do most earthquakes occur? ›

California has more earthquakes that cause damage than any other state. Alaska and California have the most earthquakes (not human-induced).

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