Earthquake In NYC? Yup. Social Media Lights Up As Buildings Shake From 4.7 Magnitude

An earthquake that started in Tewksbury, New Jersey and rippled across the tri-state area had plenty of metropolitans nervous, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul issuing a swift response.

What Happened: According to Earthquake.usgs.gov, the quake’s magnitude registered between 4.7 and 4.8 on the Richter scale.

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit west of Manhattan and has been felt throughout New York.

My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day.

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 5, 2024

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred around 10:23 a.m. EST.

It appeared to last a few seconds.

The Federal Aviation Administration also responded, saying airlines should expect delays of up to 45 minutes flying into New York City area airports.

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake in New Jersey may impact some air traffic facilities in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Air traffic operations are resuming as quickly as possible. For real-time air traffic updates please see: https://t.co/smgdqJN3td.

— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) April 5, 2024

While Hochul issued a statement shortly after the quake occurred, New Yorkers were even quicker with their reactions on social media, with some wondering whether it was an actual earthquake or something else.

me not knowing where to run after the earthquake #earthquake pic.twitter.com/PkwKRjo4MA

— left on seen (@Imakemyownshit) April 5, 2024

The #earthquake hitting a couple days before the eclipse the world ending pic.twitter.com/1s3TPc9kI4

— "J" (@j__43_) April 5, 2024

Why It Matters: Earthquakes on the East Coast are rare. But, in January, New York City felt its strongest quake in over two decades.

The magnitude, near Astoria, Queens, registered at just 1.7.

The shake was felt on Roosevelt Island.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for more coverage.

Image: Shutterstock