The 4.8-magnitude quake interrupted a session of the UN Security Council
A session of the UN Security Council was abruptly disrupted Friday when the world body’s New York headquarters began to shake. The cause of the shaking was an earthquake in neighboring New Jersey, the effects of which were felt dozens of kilometers away.
Residents of New York City and the surrounding areas took to social media to express their alarm as the ground beneath their feet shook.
Initial reports suggested that the quake had a magnitude of 5.5 and was centered near North Plainfield, New Jersey, and could be felt as far away as Pennsylvania. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) later revised the magnitude to 4.8 and reported that the epicenter was in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, approximately 30 kilometers further to the west.
No injuries or property damage have been reported.
The northeastern US is not known for earthquakes, as it is not located near any known fault lines. The largest earthquake ever recorded in the New York City area had a magnitude of approximately 5.2 and occurred in 1884.