Irish Consulate in NYC “monitoring the situation" after Friday’s surprise earthquake

The Irish Consulate in New York City says it is "monitoring the situation" after a 4.8 magnitude earthquake rattled parts of New Jersey and New York on Friday, April 5.

The Consulate, which is housed on Park Avenue in New York City, advised any‐ one concerned to follow announcements from New York authorities.

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake was felt throughout New York earlier today. The Consulate is monitoring the situation and advises anyone concerned to follow announcements from New York authori‐ ties. https://t.co/21n58ChbMg

- Irish Consulate NYC (@IrelandinNY) April 5, 2024

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), Friday's 4.8 magnitude earth‐ quake originated near Whitehouse Sta‐ tion in New Jersey "as a result of oblique reverse and strike-slip faulting at shal‐ low depths in the crust."

USGS said: "While this earthquake is relatively small globally, earthquakes of this magnitude are commonly widely felt in the eastern United States because of efficient seismic wave propagation in the region."

USGS noted that earthquakes in the eastern US are "infrequent but not unex‐ pected," and added that "since 1950, 40 other earthquakes of magnitude 3 and larger have occurred within 250 km of today’s earthquake."

However, in that time range, the April 5 earthquake is "the largest." Notable quake, preliminary info: M4.8 - 7 km N of Whitehouse Station, New Jer‐ sey https://t.co/SE99SKwosw https://t.co/ADcDLsTp8b pic.twit‐ ter.com/9Q9UvhogCP

- USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_ Quakes) April 5, 2024

According to the Associated Press, peo‐ ple in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Con‐ necticut, and other areas of the East Coast also reported feeling the ground shake.

Speaking about an hour after the earth‐ quake occurred, Governor of New York Kathy Hochul said: "We have not felt the magnitude of an earthquake of this level since about 2011."

Hochul said she immediately directed the emergency management team to start doing damage assessments and was already in contact with the Mayor of New York City Eric Adams, the Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy, as well as The White House.

Mayor Adams said on X on Friday after‐ noon that while the situation was devel‐ oping, there were currently no life safety or infrastructure problems.

While this is a developing situation, there are no life safety or infrastructure problems reported at this time.@ nyce‐ mergencymgt and our first responders are ready to respond. There are no dis‐ ruptions to the power, water, or gas sys‐ tems reported. If you smell gas, call 911. - Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 5, 2024

In New Jersey, Governor Murphy said the State Emergency Operations Center had been activated.

Our region just experienced an earth‐ quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7, with an epicenter near Readington in Hunterdon County.

We have activated our State Emergency Operations Center. Please do not call 911 unless you have an actual emer‐ gency. https://t.co/Szt5fWyIs9 - Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 5, 2024