Residents across Massachusetts and parts of New England were jarred by an unexpected tremor earlier today. Reports from NBC Boston documented the reactions of locals who felt the shaking from an earthquake, initially rated a magnitude of 4.1, then downgraded to 3.9, centered off the coast of New Hampshire and Maine in York Harbor.
The U.S. Geological Survey indicated that the quake, which took place about 12 miles underground, was felt as far as New Haven, Connecticut, and Albany, New York. The last time the Boston area felt shaking from an earthquake of similar intensity was last year, with a 4.8 magnitude earthquake centered in New Jersey. Pete Bouchard of NBC Boston tweeted, "Preliminary report is 4.1 mag. positioned off York Harbor, ME. WOW that was wild."
According to the information obtained by WCVB, viewers from across Massachusetts reached out reporting the quake. One individual wrote, "We just felt a pretty steady earthquake up here in Newburyport. My parents in Dover, New Hampshire and brother in Portland Maine both felt it as well." Another viewer described their experience, saying, "Felt the earthquake in Methuen big time! It was brief, 5-8 seconds but my entire house shook and I had couple loud bangs that I’m not sure what they were. It was pretty intense for something that small and brief!"
The seismic activity, while not commonly expected, isn't unprecedented in the region, with the USGS noting that moderately damaging earthquakes hit the New York City/Philadelphia/Wilmington corridor about twice a century, and smaller earthquakes are felt roughly every 2 to 3 years. Recalling historical events, New York City was noted by USGS to be damaged by earthquakes in 1737 and 1884, as shared by WCVB. This recent tremor adds to the ledger of geological reminders that the ground beneath us holds its own narratives, punctuated by the occasional startling shake.
