Earthquake in New Jersey felt in Philadelphia region; shaking reported from New York City to Washington, D.C.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit Hunterdon County, New Jersey on Friday morning, with shaking felt across the Northeast, including Philadelphia.

The U.S. Geological Survey said it began at 10:23 a.m. and was centered between the towns of Whitehouse Station, Califon and Lebanon. That area is about 60 miles northeast of Philadelphia.

It happened around 10:23 a.m., startling millions of people in a region of the country unaccustomed to such tremors.

The 4.8 magnitude registered by this earthquake is just below what’s considered to be a moderate quake.

The earthquake had a depth of about three miles, the USGS said.

The agency’s figures indicated that over 42 million people might have felt the rumbling.

There are an estimated 13,000 earthquakes in that range worldwide every year, according to a chart from Penn State University.

It originated near the Ramapo Fault Line that extends from near the Hudson River in southeastern New York to just south of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

No widespread damage from earthquake reported

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said no damage has been found at the city’s municipal complex, and no injuries have been reported in the city so far.

“The city has come through this earthquake in very good shape,” Parker said.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said there is only “limited damage” across the state, including in Lebanon. He says the State Emergency Operations Center has been activated.

Murphy is asking residents not to call 911 unless there is an actual emergency.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says his team and the Pa. Emergency Management Agency are actively monitoring the situation.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the earthquake and his team is monitoring potential impacts, according to White House officials.

Mass Transit Updates

NJ Transit says the rail system is seeing 20-minute delays due to bridge inspections following the earthquake.

PATCO suspended service for about an hour but service has since resumed.

SEPTA says it has no reports of any damage and it will be inspecting infrastructure as part of standard post-earthquake operations.

Amtrak has implemented speed restrictions across the Northeast as it inspects tracks.

Philadelphia International Airport said runways were shut down for about 10 to 20 minutes after the quake but they have since reopened.

What to do after an earthquake

Here are some tips for what to do after an earthquake hits:

• First, check on yourself on those around you to make sure everyone is okay.

• Check water, gas and electric lines for damage

• If any lines are damaged, shut them off if you can

• Be alert for more shaking as aftershocks are common after earthquakes

Earthquake rattles New York City, felt in Washington, D.C.

The quake also rattled New York City, but officials there say there has been sustained no major impacts.

The earthquake could be felt as far south as Washington, D.C., and as far north as Maine, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

While there were no immediate reports of serious damage, officials were checking bridges and other major infrastructure.

Earthquake felt in Philadelphia back in 2011

The last time people felt an earthquake this strong in Philadelphia was back in August of 2011.

That’s when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Richmond, Virginia.

Even though that’s 230 miles away from Philadelphia, it was clearly felt here and even caused damage.

In Center City, it shattered a pane of glass on the Independence Blue Cross building. Hundreds of people inside filed into the streets.

The same was the case at Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia where Phillies fans rushed out of the stadium. Ultimately, that night’s game still went on.

What causes an earthquake?

Earthquakes are violent shaking from the planet’s surface, according to AccuWeather. They’re caused by movement from Earth’s outermost layer, the crust.

The crust is broken up into pieces called tectonic plates that are always on the move, though usually in ways we cannot feel.

When the plates hit a roadblock, stress builds and leads to cracks in the Earth called faults.

In time, the energy from within builds to the breaking point. That sudden release leads to an earthquake.

The shaking begins at a central region called the epicenter and spreads far and wide. An earthquake can then be followed by additional shaking known as an aftershock.