A rare earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 struck the New York City area on Friday morning, surprising residents. The tremor, originating near New Jersey, was felt in Manhattan and beyond. Reports indicate it was felt as far as Boston, Massachusetts, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Initial reports from the Fire Department of New York and the New York Police Department indicated no damage, though some sirens were heard. The earthquake also disrupted a United Nations Security Council meeting in the city, as shown in video footage shared on Twitter.
Around 10:20 am, residents of New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut experienced building shakes as tremors reverberated through the ground. Moments later, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the occurrence of a 4.8-magnitude earthquake near Whitehouse Station in New Jersey.
The earthquake, with a depth of approximately 4.7 miles, sent smaller shakes throughout the greater New York City area.
Airports in various cities on the East Coast airports issued ground stops immediately after the quake.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
