New York region rattled by 4.8-magnitude earthquake

NEW YORK: A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck the New York City region on Friday (Apr 5), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), shaking buildings and surprising residents in an area that rarely experiences notable seismic activity.

The earthquake's epicentre was recorded in Lebanon, New Jersey - about 80km west of Manhattan - and at a depth of 4.7km. 

The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre initially measured the quake at 5.5-magnitude on the Richter scale.

There were no initial reports of injuries or damage.

The earthquake was felt across the region, including in New York City, New Jersey, northern Pennsylvania and western Connecticut, according to Reuters journalists and social media.

In Brooklyn, buildings shook, rattling cupboard doors and fixtures, an AFP correspondent reported.

At the United Nations, which has its headquarters in New York, a Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza was temporarily paused after the tremor.

"Is that an earthquake?" said Save the Children representative Janti Soeripto who was speaking at the time.

Social media users reported feeling the earthquake from Philadelphia up to New York and eastward along Long Island. The Empire State Building posted on its X account: "I AM FINE."

The governors of New York and New Jersey posted on social media platform X that they were mounting emergency responses. 

The New York City Mayor's Office wrote on X that it is still assessing the impact of the quake, but it has not received any reports of "major impacts".

"In case of an aftershock, drop to the floor, cover your head and neck, and take additional cover under a solid piece of furniture, next to an interior wall, or in a doorway," it added.

Charita Walcott, a 38-year-old resident in the Bronx borough of New York, said the quake felt "like a violent rumble that lasted about 30 seconds or so".

"It was kind of like being in a drum circle, that vibration," she said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told airlines they can expect flights to be held for New York City airports until noon because of the earthquake and delays of 30 minutes to 45 minutes. Some flights bound for New York were diverted to other airports, according to the tracking website FlightAware.

"Air traffic operations are resuming as quickly as possible," the FAA said.

The busy Holland Tunnel, one of three major Hudson River crossings between New York City and New Jersey, will be temporarily closed for inspection, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said.

Friday's tremor reminded some residents of the 2011 5.8-magnitude earthquake in Virginia that prompted evacuations in New York City, including City Hall, and caused damage in Washington.