NEW DELHI: A rare earthquake on the East Coast rattled residents from the skyscrapers of New York and Philadelphia to the quieter reaches of New England on Friday. Although the quake didn’t cause widespread destruction, it was a jarring experience for a region not used to such seismic activity.
The US Geological Survey estimated that the quake, occurring in midmorning with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, was felt by over 42 million people.The epicenter was located near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, roughly 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia.
The tremors were felt across a wide area, from Baltimore to Boston, leading to the displacement of nearly 30 residents in Newark, New Jersey, after the evacuation of three multifamily homes for damage assessments. In response to the quake, regional officials initiated inspections of bridges and major infrastructure, airlines adjusted flights, Amtrak slowed its Northeast Corridor trains, and a Philadelphia-area commuter rail service was temporarily halted.
In Manhattan, attorney Shawn Clark described feeling the quake on the 26th floor of a midtown office building, initially suspecting an explosion or construction mishap, labeling the experience as “pretty weird and scary.”
Earthquakes are infrequent on the East Coast due to the absence of tectonic plate boundaries. However, since 1950, the USGS has recorded 13 quakes of magnitude 4.5 or higher within 311 miles of the recent quake’s epicenter. The most notable was a 5.8-magnitude quake in Mineral, Virginia, in 2011, which was felt from Georgia to Canada. Scientists explain that the geological composition of the East Coast allows earthquake energy to travel further than in the West.
In the wake of a 4.8-magnitude earthquake that rattled the New York area, speculation abounded on social media about a potential link to the upcoming solar eclipse. Historically viewed as ominous harbingers, eclipses have often been associated with dire predictions and natural disasters. However, experts are quick to dispel any connections between these celestial events and terrestrial upheavals.
Paul Earl, from the United States Geological Survey, emphasized the lack of correlation between the earthquake and the solar eclipse scheduled for Monday. “With earthquakes of this size, there’s no correlation to celestial bodies,” Earl said, underlining that the two phenomena are unrelated. Despite widespread speculation and concern on social media platforms, scientific investigations continue in an effort to better understand the seismic event, a New York Post report said.
The social media sphere was alight with commentary linking the earthquake to the eclipse. New York Politico contributor Bill Mahoney mused on Twitter about the historical significance of such coincidences, suggesting that in times past, these events would have been interpreted as apocalyptic omens.
Controversially, Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) saw in these occurrences a divine message, urging America to repent. She expressed her belief that these natural phenomena are signs from God, warning of further events to come and highlighting the need for national introspection, the NY Post report said.
Despite these connections being scientifically unfounded, the upcoming eclipse is expected to significantly impact the natural world. Research indicates that animals and plants will exhibit unusual behaviors as the eclipse progresses, mistaking the sudden darkness for night. Angela Speck, a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, noted that animals begin to react when the eclipse reaches about 75% to 80% totality, seeking refuge as if night were falling.
The US Geological Survey estimated that the quake, occurring in midmorning with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, was felt by over 42 million people.The epicenter was located near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, roughly 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia.
The tremors were felt across a wide area, from Baltimore to Boston, leading to the displacement of nearly 30 residents in Newark, New Jersey, after the evacuation of three multifamily homes for damage assessments. In response to the quake, regional officials initiated inspections of bridges and major infrastructure, airlines adjusted flights, Amtrak slowed its Northeast Corridor trains, and a Philadelphia-area commuter rail service was temporarily halted.
In Manhattan, attorney Shawn Clark described feeling the quake on the 26th floor of a midtown office building, initially suspecting an explosion or construction mishap, labeling the experience as “pretty weird and scary.”
Earthquakes are infrequent on the East Coast due to the absence of tectonic plate boundaries. However, since 1950, the USGS has recorded 13 quakes of magnitude 4.5 or higher within 311 miles of the recent quake’s epicenter. The most notable was a 5.8-magnitude quake in Mineral, Virginia, in 2011, which was felt from Georgia to Canada. Scientists explain that the geological composition of the East Coast allows earthquake energy to travel further than in the West.
In the wake of a 4.8-magnitude earthquake that rattled the New York area, speculation abounded on social media about a potential link to the upcoming solar eclipse. Historically viewed as ominous harbingers, eclipses have often been associated with dire predictions and natural disasters. However, experts are quick to dispel any connections between these celestial events and terrestrial upheavals.
Paul Earl, from the United States Geological Survey, emphasized the lack of correlation between the earthquake and the solar eclipse scheduled for Monday. “With earthquakes of this size, there’s no correlation to celestial bodies,” Earl said, underlining that the two phenomena are unrelated. Despite widespread speculation and concern on social media platforms, scientific investigations continue in an effort to better understand the seismic event, a New York Post report said.
The social media sphere was alight with commentary linking the earthquake to the eclipse. New York Politico contributor Bill Mahoney mused on Twitter about the historical significance of such coincidences, suggesting that in times past, these events would have been interpreted as apocalyptic omens.
Controversially, Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) saw in these occurrences a divine message, urging America to repent. She expressed her belief that these natural phenomena are signs from God, warning of further events to come and highlighting the need for national introspection, the NY Post report said.
Despite these connections being scientifically unfounded, the upcoming eclipse is expected to significantly impact the natural world. Research indicates that animals and plants will exhibit unusual behaviors as the eclipse progresses, mistaking the sudden darkness for night. Angela Speck, a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, noted that animals begin to react when the eclipse reaches about 75% to 80% totality, seeking refuge as if night were falling.
