A rare earthquake rattled the East Coast on Thursday, with its epicenter located in New Jersey and shaking felt across several states, including New York. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams provided updates on the situation, assuring the public that no major injuries or infrastructure damage were reported.
The earthquake led to temporary ground stops at major airports like Newark Liberty International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, causing flight disruptions and delays. The Port Authority Transit Corp. also suspended service for inspection, while New Jersey Transit alerted riders of delays due to bridge inspections.
Experts explained that earthquakes on the East Coast can be felt at a greater distance and cause more pronounced shaking compared to those on the West Coast due to the region’s older, harder, and denser rocks. The earthquake, originating at a depth of less than 3 miles, ruptured on the Ramapo fault system, an old and mostly inactive fault line.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy activated the state’s emergency operations center and urged the public not to call 911 unless experiencing an emergency. Princeton University geosciences professor Frederik J. Simons described the earthquake as one of the largest in recent New Jersey history, with violent and strong shaking lasting about 35 seconds.
Videos captured the moment of the earthquake, which occurred just days after a powerful temblor in Taiwan. The incidents are not believed to be related, and the situation remains under investigation. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.