Additional Coverage:
A 3.0-magnitude earthquake surprised New York City residents late Saturday night, just after 10 p.m., causing a brief but noticeable tremor across the city. The quake’s epicenter was located in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, a small borough just west of Manhattan, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
While the initial report from the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) pegged the quake at a 3.8 magnitude, the USGS confirmed the 3.0 measurement. The shaking, classified as moderate intensity with minimal damage potential, was felt across a wide swathe of the region, including Long Island, parts of Rockland County, much of northern New Jersey, and even into Connecticut.
Reports from residents varied. One Brooklyn resident described a short, mild swaying, while a Queens resident reported a “massive boom” following the tremor.
Social media lit up with reactions, ranging from surprise and disbelief to concern. One user in Paramus, New Jersey, described the experience as “crazy,” while several New York City residents took to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to confirm what they had felt.
One unsettling report mentioned hearing screams and an explosion in the city following the quake.