HARTFORD, Conn. — A 4.8 magnitude earthquake has been reported to be centered in northern New Jersey late Friday morning, and multiple reports of shaking have been reported in Connecticut.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported a quake at 10:23 a.m. with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, centered near Lebanon, New Jersey, or about 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia. U.S.G.S. figures indicated that the quake might have been felt by more than 42 million people.
New York City’s emergency notification system said in a social media post more than 30 minutes after the quake that it had no reports of damage or injuries in the city. The Fire Department of New York said on social media about an hour after the quake that it was “responding to calls and evaluating structural stability” but that there are “no major incidents at this time.”
Amtrak said it was inspecting its tracks and had speed restrictions in place throughout the busy Northeast Corridor. New Jersey Transit posted on X that its train system was subject to delays caused by bridge inspections. The Philadelphia area's PATCO rail line suspended service out of what it said was "an abundance of caution.”
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. In midtown Manhattan, traffic grew louder as motorists blared their horns on shuddering streets. Some Brooklyn residents heard a boom and their building shaking.
People have called and emailed the FOX61 Newsroom to report feeling the quake in Avon, Simsbury, Waterbury, Burlington, North Branford, and the Hartford area.
Greenwich Middle School was evacuated "in an abundance of caution."
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said, "At this time, we have no reports of any notable damage to any homes, buildings, or structures in New Haven. We are continuing to monitor the situation, but based on what we know, there is no need for any evacuations nor cause for further alarm. However, should you smell gas and suspect a gas leak, please do call 9-1-1 to report it, so that our first responders can act accordingly."
Steve Burns in Terryville said, "My whole house shook like I’ve never felt before…I thought it was a huge wind gust at first…. sounded like the walls were closing in!"
"I work remotely and my team is all over the east coast and my team in New York and as far as Pa. felt it," said Becky Walton.
"I was sitting in my chair showing my husband a clip on the final four stats and my chair started shaking and looked over to tell my husband that the washer was off balance downstairs and as I looked at him the lamp and my drink was rattling- lasted for a few seconds and stopped. The washer was fine…. So I guess we felt the earthquake! Crazy!" said Laurie Szepanski of Windsor Locks.
"Building shook and felt like a rumbling train going by our building," said Dale Swanson.
Lisa Pavia said, "The doors on my dresser and armoire opened and my 4 year old granddaughter came running out of her room! I used to live in CA and had an idea of what I was feeling."
"The plants were swinging back and forth in my house and that slight swaying motion for probably about less than a minute and then it stopped," said Laurie Bertrand in Simsbury.
Last week, a 1.8-magnitude earthquake hit Ledyard and was felt in parts of Stonington.
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