BREAKING NEWS: 4.8 Earthquake Hits New York City
BREAKING NEWS: 4.8 Earthquake Hits New York City (Photo: USGS/Screenshot)

 A 4.8 magnitude earthquake centered near Lebanon, New Jersey, shook the densely populated New York City metropolitan area shortly before 11 a.m. on Friday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The tremors were felt across the tri-state area, including New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and as far away as Cambridge, Massachusetts, approximately 250 miles from the reported epicenter.

The Fire Department of New York reported no initial damage, but the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered ground stops at John F. Kennedy and Newark International airports as a precautionary measure. Social media users shared posts about the earthquake, with many describing shaking buildings and a momentary sense of confusion and fear.

In midtown Manhattan, the usual cacophony of traffic grew louder as motorists blared their horns on momentarily shuddering streets. Some Brooklyn residents heard a booming sound and felt their buildings shaking, while in an apartment house in Manhattan's East Village, a resident from earthquake-prone California calmed nervous neighbors.

Celebrities also took to social media to share their experiences. Megyn Kelly posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she felt the quake in Connecticut, writing, "Did we just have an earthquake? (In CT)." Actress Busy Phillips posted about feeling the shake in NYC, saying, "like guys. i think there was an earthquake in nyc." Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain wrote, "Did we just have an earthquake?! NYC," while Don Lemon added, "Totally just had an #earthquake in New York. Did you feel it?"

New York state governor Kathy Hochul confirmed the earthquake's impact, stating, "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." New Jersey governor Phil Murphy reported that the epicenter of the quake was near Readington in Hunterdon County, NJ.

A spokesperson for NYC Mayor Eric Adams advised residents on what to do in case of an aftershock, saying, "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. We will be updating the public very soon with additional updates."

NYC Mayor's Office said on X, "NYCMayor (Eric Adams) is being briefed. While we do not have any reports of major impacts at this time, we’re still assessing the impact."

Video shared on social media showed the moment the earthquake was felt during a United Nations Security Council meeting, while former New Jersey governor Chris Christie said, "A few moments ago our entire house shook for about 25 seconds or so here in Mendham, NJ."

Experts had previously warned that NYC was long overdue for a quake, as the city of 8.5 million people is riddled with fault lines that could bring dozens of buildings down. New York statistically gets a quake like this every 100 years, with the last one occurring in 1884, making it well overdue for another.

Charita Walcott, a 38-year-old resident in the Bronx borough of New York, described the quake as "like a violent rumble that lasted about 30 seconds or so." She added, "It was kind of like being in a drum circle, that vibration."

This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.