New York: In an unexpected turn of events, a 4.8-magnitude earthquake jolted the vicinity of New York City on Friday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The seismic event reverberated through buildings and caught residents off guard in an area unaccustomed to significant seismic activity, yet fortunately resulting in no significant damage.
The earthquake’s epicenter was pinpointed near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, striking shortly after 10:20 a.m. ET (1420 GMT) at a depth of approximately 4.7 kilometers (2.9 miles), as disclosed by the USGS.
Reports of tremors flooded in from regions spanning Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. Remarkably, the New York City Police Department stated that it had not received any reports of structural damage.
Charita Walcott, a Bronx resident, described the sensation as “like a violent rumble that lasted about 30 seconds or so.” She likened it to “being in a drum circle, that vibration.”
In a scene mirroring the quake’s impact, the Save the Children CEO, addressing the United Nations Security Council on the Israel-Gaza conflict, abruptly halted amidst the tremors. Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour humorously remarked, “You’re making the ground shake.”
Aviation authorities swiftly responded to the seismic activity, issuing advisories to airlines regarding flight operations into New York City airports. Flights were held until noon, and delays of 30-45 minutes were anticipated. Some flights en route to New York were redirected to alternate airports, according to FlightAware tracking data. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assured that air traffic operations would resume promptly.
Meanwhile, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced the temporary closure of the bustling Holland Tunnel for inspection, one of the vital Hudson River crossings connecting the two states.
In a coordinated effort, the governors of New York and New Jersey took to social media to announce emergency response measures. New York City Mayor Eric Adams received a comprehensive briefing, with his office reporting no immediate indications of significant impacts.
