A rare earthquake struck New York City, causing buildings on Roosevelt Island to shake and experience power outages. The 1.7 magnitude earthquake hit Astoria in Queens at approximately 5:45 a.m., jolting residents on Roosevelt Island who reported hearing a loud explosion. The FDNY responded to reports of a “building shaking” and an “explosion” on the island. However, no explosion was confirmed, and there were no injuries or damage reported. The city’s official emergency notification system assured that the earthquake had no impact on structural stability.
Residents described feeling their beds and buildings moving, with one resident mistaking the earthquake for an explosion. Two buildings near the Roosevelt Island Bridge and Tram were affected by power outages, including elevator failures. Emergency response vehicles were dispatched to the island to assess the situation.
While earthquakes on the West Coast are more commonly associated with strength and damage, this event serves as a reminder that the East Coast is not exempt from such occurrences. Dr. Lucy Jones, a seismologist, emphasized that earthquakes can happen anywhere and cannot be predicted, which adds to the fear factor. The USGS states that earthquake rates in the northeastern United States are significantly lower than in California, but the region’s older rocks, exposed to extreme pressures and temperatures, contribute to their density and hardness.
This rare earthquake in New York City highlights the unpredictable nature of seismic activity and serves as a reminder to be prepared for such events, even in areas less prone to earthquakes.
