Minor earthquake shakes New Jersey, tremors felt in New York

A minor earthquake rattled parts of New Jersey and New York on the night of August 2, according to US officials. The magnitude 3.0 tremor struck at 10:18 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located about 10 kilometers beneath the surface in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, roughly 21 kilometers from Midtown Manhattan.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the quake, which was felt across northern New Jersey and parts of New York City, including Upper Manhattan neighbourhoods like Hell’s Kitchen, Riverdale in The Bronx, and even as far as Staten Island, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

There were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage, but many residents described the experience as startling.

“It sounded like a bang, followed by a shake and it lasted about two seconds,” said Erica Pirchio, 40, who was in Nutley, New Jersey, located approximately 15 kilometers south of the epicenter.
“I have experienced two earthquakes in New York and New Jersey and this was the most violent — I never heard an earthquake before that sounded like a thud,” she added. “I thought one of my parents fell.”

In Staten Island, some reported hearing a loud explosion-like sound during the tremors.

“It almost sounded like a car hit the side of the house, the house was swaying,” said Evan Ferrer, 33, who was watching a movie with his girlfriend near South Beach when the shaking began.
“The one from 2024 was longer, but didn’t have a boom as extreme as this. It was a boom followed by swaying that lasted for a few seconds.”

The incident follows a rare magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck near Lebanon, New Jersey, in April 2024, which also caused noticeable shaking throughout New York City.

Just days before the August 2 quake, a series of six minor tremors — ranging from magnitude 0.7 to 2.0 — were recorded over a 17-hour period in Morris County, New Jersey, highlighting a recent increase in seismic activity in the region.

By Sabina Mammadli