Millions hit as powerful quake rattles New York

New York has been hit by its biggest earthquake in 140 years, shocking the city in the early hours of the morning.

A rare earthquake shook the New York area on Friday local time, rattling New York City and New Jersey with cities as far afield as Boston and Baltimore also feeling the shock.

The preliminary 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Lebanon, New Jersey, around 10:23am (1.23am AEDT), according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake was centred near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, 65 kilometres west of New York City.

A worker peers out from a worksite in lower Manhattan moments after New York City and parts of New Jersey experienced a 4.8 magnitude earthquake. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

In New York City, where tremors were felt for more than 30 seconds, there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, but the quake triggered numerous delays and temporary closures of transportation infrastructure in the area.

Flight operations were halted at several airports in the region including New York’s La Guardia, Philadelphia and Newark in New Jersey.

“Air traffic operations are resuming as quickly as possible,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

The quake was the biggest in the area since 1884 and the fourth biggest ever.

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit New York and New Jersey on Friday morning Picture: Supplied

Nora Freeman, who lives on the Upper West Side, said her apartment floor “started shaking”.

“I was at my desk and my floor started to shake,” she told News Corp.

“At first I thought it was a bus, but the quality of the shake was different – like it was undulating. My glass cabinets were shaking and it just kept going. It went on for about 20 seconds.”

Staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital on the Upper East Side told News Corp they felt the building “shake”.

New Yorkers received emergency alerts after the 4.8 magnitude earthquake. Picture: AFP

“My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he has also been briefed following the tremors, and no major impacts had been reported in the city.

US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the earthquake, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

The centre of the earthquake was recorded 65 kilometres west of New York City. Picture: Supplied

Ms Jean-Pierre posted on social media that the president is “in touch with his team who are monitoring potential impacts.” She added that the White House is in “touch with federal, state, and local officials as we learn more.”

The Empire State Building’s official X account jumped into the fray online, quipping, “I AM FINE.”

People walk through lower Manhattan moments after New York City and parts of New Jersey experienced a 4.8 magnitude earthquake. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

But residents throughout the region were rattled.

“Oh, my God! I jumped and started looking out my windows. That was scary!” said Traci Slade, from Clifton, New Jersey told the New York Post.

I AM FINE

— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) April 5, 2024

A resident of Bridgewater in New Jersey said he heard a loud bang — “like the loudest thunder you ever heard” — followed by 15 seconds of rumbling.

At the United Nations, which has its headquarters in New York, a Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza was temporarily paused after the tremor.

“Is that an earthquake?” said Save the Children representative Janti Soeripto who was speaking at the time.

There are no reports of damage to New York City’s transit system following this morning’s earthquake, New York City Police Department Chief of Transit Michael M. Kemper said.

Kemper said he has been briefed by his team regarding the earthquake felt across parts of the Northeast.

“There are no current reports of any structural damage and/or service disruptions to the NYC Transit system as a result,” he said. “That said, our team is continuing to survey all lines & stations and we will keep you updated.”

Social media users reported feeling the earthquake from Philadelphia up to New York and eastwards along Long Island.

Originally published as Millions hit as powerful quake rattles New York