(Editor’s note: This story was updated when more information became available.)
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake at 10:23 a.m. near Tewksbury and Lebanon in Hunterdon County that was felt up and down the state shook New Jersey on Friday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey.
It is too early to determine if there was any major damage or injuries, but ROI-NJ already has heard from people in Salem, Burlington, Monmouth, Union, Morris, Sussex and Bergen counties who said they felt the earth shake.
It also was felt in New York City. Some social media posts indicate it was felt into New England.
Read more from ROI-NJ:
“Our region just experienced an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7, with an epicenter near Readington in Hunterdon County. We have activated our State Emergency Operations Center. Please do not call 911 unless you have an actual emergency,” Gov. Phil Murphy said on social media.
The earthquake had an immediate impact on transportation in the region.
New Jersey Transit announced rail service systemwide is subject to up to 20-minute delays in both directions due to bridge inspections.
The Holland Tunnel, on social media, announced it will be delayed for inspection.
Newark Liberty International Airport ordered a ground stop following the quake.
The earthquake is the second in the state this year.
The USGS said a 2.2 magnitude earthquake shook parts of Hunterdon County on March 14. The USGS said that quake was centered northeast of Whitehouse Station on the Ramapo fault.
To remind people, the scale measuring earthquakes is open-ended (it does not go up to 10). The earthquake that shook Taiwan earlier this week registered at 7.4.
If the 4.8 reading is confirmed, the quake would be one of the largest to impact the state in its history.
According to the state of New Jersey’s website, the largest earthquake to impact New Jersey occurred in 1783. That earthquake, a magnitude 5.3 quake, occurred west of New York City and was felt from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania.
