'The whole room just started to shake': Rare 4.7 earthquake hits New York as residents report 'crazy' tremor

5 April 2024, 16:02 | Updated: 5 April 2024, 18:26

New Yorkers felt the effects of a rare earthquake in the city
New Yorkers felt the effects of a rare earthquake in the city. Picture: Alamy/USGS

By Asher McShane

A New York resident has described the "crazy" shaking from a rare earthquake that rocked the city, as well as parts of Connecticut and New Jersey.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7, rocked the US tri-state area, centred near Lebanon, New Jersey. People in Baltimore, Philadelphia and other areas also reported feeling the tremor.

The epicentre was just north-east of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, about 50 miles from Manhattan.

Milly, a New York resident, told LBC: "It was crazy, I am working from home and we live in an apartment over 20 floors up in Brooklyn.

"The whole room just started to shake & I had no idea what was going on.

"It was only after, I fully realised what had happened as there was a a load of commotion outside."

The Fire Department of New York said there were no initial reports of any major damage. 

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

Read more: Four dead as Taiwan hit by strongest earthquake in 25 years with locals trapped in buildings and more than 50 injured

Read more: More than 70 miners trapped in two rock quarries after earthquake strikes Taiwan

This image provided by U.S. Geological Survey shows the epicenter of an earthquake on the East Coast of the U.S. on Thursday, April 5, 2024.
This image provided by U.S. Geological Survey shows the epicenter of an earthquake on the East Coast of the U.S. on Thursday, April 5, 2024. Picture: Alamy

Actress Busy Phillips posted online: “Like guys. i think there was an earthquake in nyc.”

Hollywood A-lister Jessica Chastain, who is also in the city, wrote: "Did we just have an earthquake?! NYC"

A UN Security Council meeting on Gaza at its New York HQ had to be paused due to the tremor.

Many incoming flights at the three major airports serving New York were diverted from landing because of the earthquake.

The tunnel connecting lower Manhattan with New Jersey via the Hudson River has been temporarily closed to traffic so it can be inspected for damage.

Local train services were also delayed by the earthquake.

Officials said the earthquake was not going to trigger a tsunami on the east coast.

Joe Biden has been briefed on the earthquake, the president's press secretary said.

The shaking stirred memories of the August 23 2011 earthquake that jolted tens of millions of people from Georgia to Canada.

Registering magnitude 5.8, it was the strongest quake to hit the East Coast since the Second World War. The epicentre was in Virginia.

That earthquake left cracks in the Washington Monument, spurred the evacuation of the White House and Capitol and rattled New Yorkers three weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Trump confirms he will meet Starmer in Washington 'in the next few weeks'

Trump to meet with Starmer in Washington 'in the next few weeks' - as JD Vance slams Europe in fiery speech

Both Meghan and Kate shared Valentine's pictures

Harry and Meghan share sweet Valentine's photo after William and Kate also post romantic picture

Jaden Sheriff.

Man found guilty of killing ex-girlfriend's neighbour over 'blue balls', sentenced to life imprisonment

The woman was attacked by a shark

Horror as woman loses both hands after being mauled by shark as husband desperately fights it off

United States Vice-President JD Vance, second right, meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, third left, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Munich

'Putin is a liar': Zelenskyy's warning to Trump as Ukraine's leader voices concern over 'risky' phone calls with Russia

Addenbrookes hospital, Cambridge

Children's surgeon suspended after nine operations fall 'below standards' in Cambridge

Lesley Joseph refuses to discuss Pauline Quirke's dementia diagnosis.

'I won't talk about her at the moment': Lesley Joseph refuses to discuss Pauline Quirke's dementia diagnosis

Ada Bikakci

Girl, 9, killed after being hit by London bus, as driver charged with driving while drunk or on drugs

Exclusive
A small group of secondary school pupils working on practical experiments in a chemistry lab.

Ministers should consider shortening school holidays and letting teachers work from home, union chief says

JD Vance

Free speech is 'in retreat' across Europe, claims JD Vance - as US brands it a 'bigger threat than Russia'

oxford street with shoppers

Two arrested in Oxford St 'celebrity romance scam' after victims coerced into sending £200k to 'well-known boyfriends'

What if Ukraine were the UK? Could you accept surrendering a fifth of our country to Putin after so much sacrifice?

What if Ukraine were the UK? Could you accept surrendering a fifth of our country to Putin after so much sacrifice?

Most expensive pint revealed.

Most expensive pint in UK pubs revealed

One of the UK's 'most wanted' men sentenced to 12 years in prison after drug dealer evaded police for four years

One of the UK's 'most wanted' fugitives jailed for 12 years after drug dealer hunted down by police in Portugal

Anne Hodgson, 87, and Olwyn Smith, 82, with Dreamboy Max Hunter

Care home residents 'delighted' at male stripper visit

Police at the scene on the Broadway in Stratford

Three men stabbed in east London after 'large brawl' breaks out - with one arrested