- A UN Security Council session was interrupted on Friday after the world body’s headquarters in New York began to shake. The culprit was an earthquake under neighboring New Jersey, felt dozens of kilometers away.
New York (Agencies): The bustling metropolis of New York City experienced an unexpected tremor as a 4.8-magnitude earthquake reverberated through its streets. The seismic event, centered near Lebanon, New Jersey, sent shockwaves along the Atlantic coast, affecting an estimated 45 million people from Boston to Philadelphia.
At approximately 10:23 a.m. local time (14:23 GMT), buildings in densely populated Manhattan and throughout the five boroughs swayed, catching residents off guard. Social media platforms buzzed with accounts of the ground trembling beneath their feet. India Hays, a barista in lower Manhattan, described the sensation: “I noticed the door trembling on its frame. I thought surely there couldn’t be an earthquake here.” Charita Walcott, a Bronx resident, likened it to “a violent rumble that lasted about 30 seconds or so.”
The United Nations, located in midtown Manhattan, also felt the quake’s impact. During an address to the Security Council on the Gaza conflict, Save the Children CEO Inger Ashing abruptly paused as the ground shook. Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour quipped, “You’re making the ground shake.”
Despite the widespread tremors, there have been no casualties or significant structural damage reported thus far. The New York City Fire Department remains vigilant, assessing the situation. The city’s Emergency Management agency urges anyone in danger to call 911 and report non-emergency impacts to the city’s services hotline.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey temporarily closed the Holland Tunnel—a vital commuter route connecting New Jersey and Manhattan—for inspection. Some flights bound for New York were diverted to other airports. The iconic Statue of Liberty, standing majestically in New York Harbor, even captured the earthquake on its EarthCam.
The northeastern US rarely experiences earthquakes, as it lies far from documented fault lines. The largest known quake in the New York City area occurred in 1884, measuring approximately 5.2 in magnitude. Today’s seismic event serves as a reminder that nature can surprise even the most urbanized corners of the world.