A magnitude 4.8 earthquake rattled the northeastern United States on Friday morning, sending tremors from Boston to Baltimore. The quake struck at 10:23 a.m. ET, with its epicenter located about 45 miles west of New York City and 40 miles east of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in an area north of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.
Despite the quake’s intensity, there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage in New York City. However, the temblor caused delays and temporary closures of transportation infrastructure in the area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated inspections of runways at the three major airports in New York City and Newark, New Jersey, with a groundstop remaining in place at Newark Liberty International Airport.
United Airlines, which dominates operations at Newark airport, diverted several flights and offered fee-free flight changes for affected travelers. The carrier reported no injuries to its personnel. New Jersey Transit also experienced system-wide delays of up to 20 minutes as a result of the earthquake.
Following the earthquake, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York announced that her team was evaluating the impacts and potential damage, promising to provide updates throughout the day. President Joe Biden has also been briefed on the earthquake and is in communication with his staff, who are monitoring the situation for potential impacts.
The National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed that there was no danger of a tsunami on the east coast following the earthquake. Despite this, New York City’s emergency alert system issued a warning to cell phones at around 11:46 a.m. ET, cautioning that aftershocks may be felt but advising residents to continue their usual activities.
Reports from CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla at the New York Stock Exchange described a moment of apprehension among those present. Similarly, the Empire State Building’s Twitter account reassured followers that the building was undamaged.
The Port Authority for New York and New Jersey announced that the Holland Tunnel, which connects lower Manhattan to New Jersey, was temporarily closed to traffic for inspection. However, by midday, the tunnel had reopened, and traffic was flowing normally.
As the region continues to assess the aftermath of the earthquake, residents and officials remain vigilant for any further seismic activity.
