4.8-magnitude earthquake is largest in NYC area since 1884

NEW YORK (PIX11) – The 4.8-magnitude earthquake that shook the tri-state area Friday morning is the largest earthquake with an epicenter near New York City in 140 years.

The largest earthquake ever recorded in New York City’s history was 5.2-magnitude in 1884, according to NYC Emergency Management. It’s believed to have happened somewhere between Brooklyn and Sandy Hook, New Jersey.

Can a major earthquake hit New York City?

Earthquakes with magnitudes near or above 5 also struck near New York City in 1737 and 1783.

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake was felt in New York City in 2011, but its epicenter was in Virginia.

Friday’s earthquake was centered near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, about 45 miles west of New York City, according to the United States Geological Survey. The shaking started at 10:23 a.m. and lasted for several seconds.

The earthquake was felt far and wide. It appears to have shaken areas as far south as the Washington, D.C. area and as far north as the New York-Canada border. More than 42 million people may have felt the earthquake, U.S. Geological Survey figures indicated.

More than 120,000 responses poured into the U.S. Geological Survey’s “Did You Feel It?” tool. Many of those were from reports in densely populated New York City, Boston and Philadelphia.

No major damage has been reported in New York City, but authorities were still assessing the impacts of the earthquake.

Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.

Alix Martichoux, Mira Wassef and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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