A minor earthquake was felt across New York City and northern New Jersey last night. The U.S. Geological Survey, cited by Gothamist, reported that the 3.0-magnitude quake originated near Hasbrouck Heights in Bergen County, New Jersey. Occurring at around 10:18 p.m., the tremor drew comparisons to a stronger quake that shook the region last year, though this event was weaker in intensity.
No damage or injuries were reported in New York City, but the city’s emergency management agency stated that it is monitoring the situation. A Brooklyn resident described the tremor as a brief, slight swaying. The event brought back memories of last year’s magnitude 4.8 earthquake, which NBC New York reported was centered near Tewksbury, New Jersey, and was nearly 20 times stronger than the tremor felt last night.
NBC New York mentions that earthquakes, though seldom strong enough to be noticed, are not unusual in the Northeast, citing the presence of the Ramapo Fault. Interestingly, there have been at least five small earthquakes in the past month alone, with the largest, a magnitude 2.0, occurring on July 22 near Randolph, New Jersey.
Social media users quickly responded to the earthquake, sharing their experiences online, while the official Empire State Building account posted a reassuring message stating, “I AM FINE,” NBC New York reported.
