New York City shaken by 4.8 magnitude earthquake
05.04.2024 - 16:43
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
An earthquake has shaken the densely populated New York City metropolitan area and much of the Northeast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). A preliminary magnitude of 4.8 was recorded as locals reported feeling the quake.
The seismic event centred near Lebanon, New Jersey, situated roughly 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia. The agency estimates that over 42 million people may have felt the tremor.
The Fire Department of New York said there were no initial reports of damage. New York Mayor Eric Adams had been briefed on the quake, his spokesperson Fabien Levy said, adding, "While we do not have any reports of major impacts at this time, we're still assessing the impact."
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In midtown Manhattan, the usual cacophony of traffic grew louder as motorists blared their horns on momentarily shuddering streets. Some Brooklyn residents heard a booming sound and their building shaking. In an apartment house in Manhattan's East Village, a resident from more earthquake-prone California calmed nervous neighbours.
At a coffee shop in lower Manhattan, customers buzzed over the unexpected earthquake, which rattled dishware and shook the concrete counter. "I noticed the door trembling on its frame," said India Hays, a barista. "I thought surely there couldn't be an earthquake here."
People in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Connecticut and other areas of the Northeast reported shaking. Tremors lasting for several seconds were felt over 200 miles away near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the quake was felt