The residents of New Jersey were still experiencing the effects of a rare 4.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Readington Township. Dozens of aftershocks continued to shake the area, causing concern among the local community.
Seismologists from the U.S. Geological Survey have detected 31 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 1.5 to 4.0, and they have cautioned that these tremors will persist for approximately a week. This earthquake, the most powerful to strike the northeastern region of the United States in a hundred years, has left a lasting impact.
The USGS reported additional aftershocks in Hunterdon, Somerset, and Morris counties.
According to CBS News, aftershocks are typically a concern for about a week following an earthquake. This information was shared by Dax Soule, an assistant professor and seismologist from Queens College.
According to Soule, the East Coast experiences seismic activity, but the majority of earthquakes in the region are typically small in magnitude.
According to the USGS, the earthquake that occurred on Friday was classified as moderate. Quakes with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 5.4 are typically felt by people, but they usually only result in minor damage. It is estimated that around 500,000 earthquakes of this magnitude occur annually.
The Northridge earthquake, which struck in 1994, was a powerful magnitude 6.7 event, according to the USGS. This earthquake resulted in 57 fatalities, approximately 9,000 injuries, and caused an estimated $20 billion in damages to over 112,000 structures.
The earthquake on Friday caused power outages in Newark, along with numerous gas leaks. Local officials had to inspect three homes to make sure they were structurally sound.
The earthquake in Randolph, N.J. not only caused damage to buildings but also resulted in additional incidents. For instance, a water main break occurred, leading to flooding on a street. Furthermore, a historic grist mill, which was constructed in 1760, experienced significant harm as a large tree fell on it, causing it to collapse. The impact of the earthquake was evident in the destruction it caused to both infrastructure and historical landmarks.
According to officials from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the earthquake had an impact on New York City. However, they assured that the city’s subways, bridges, and tunnels remained intact despite the seismic event.
The USGS stated that the earthquake on Friday was of moderate intensity, and earthquakes with magnitudes between 2.5 and 5.4 are generally felt but typically result in only minor damage. It is estimated that around 500,000 earthquakes of this magnitude occur every year.
