Rare N.J. Earthquake Sends Shockwaves Along East Coast

N.J. Earthquake Sends Tremors Along East Coast of U.S.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 centered in Hunterdon County jolted the East Coast on Friday morning, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The seismic event reverberated across the region, reaching as far as New York City, Delaware, and Connecticut. According to estimates from the U.S.G.S., over 42 million people might have felt the tremors.

Governor Phil Murphy took to social media to address the situation, confirming a preliminary magnitude of 4.7 with the epicenter near Readington in Hunterdon County. Emergency operations were activated, with the governor urging residents not to dial 911 unless faced with a genuine emergency.

Further analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey revealed the earthquake registered a magnitude of 4.8, originating approximately 7 kilometers north of the Whitehouse Station section of Readington Township in Hunterdon County.

The impact of the quake was evident even at the National Weather Service’s primary New Jersey forecast office in Mount Holly, Burlington County, where staff experienced the building shaking.

Alex Dodd, a meteorologist at the office, described the sensation as akin to “gentle rolling,” likening it to the passage of a large truck.

Residents across various parts of New Jersey reported feeling the quake, with reports of houses shaking for about 10 seconds, accompanied by rattling windows and swaying rooms.

NJ Transit announced system-wide delays of up to 20 minutes in both directions due to bridge inspections following the earthquake.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted disruptions at airports in the affected region, stating that air traffic operations in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Baltimore were gradually resuming to normalcy.