Summary

  • A magnitude 4.8 earthquake has been felt across New York and the surrounding areas

  • The epicentre of the tremor was near Lebanon, New Jersey, about 40 miles (64km) west of New York City

  • There is a 3% chance of magnitude 5 aftershocks in the next week

  • New York Governor Kathy Hochul says the state is taking the earthquake very seriously because of potential aftershocks

  • Hochul says her team are reviewing the state's infrastructure following the quake

  • Mayor Eric Adams says New Yorkers should go about their normal day, and first responders are "working to make sure the city is safe"

  • Charita Walcott, resident of New York's Bronx district, says the quake felt "like a violent rumble that lasted about 30 seconds or so"

  • You can watch live coverage by pressing the play button above

  1. Sitting in a Manhattan skyscraper in an earthquakepublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 5 April

    Nada Tawfik
    Reporting from New York

    Sitting in our New York offices, a colleague and I instantly felt the earthquake here on the 18th floor in lower Manhattan, as though our desks and the building itself were swaying.

    Within moments, my family and friend chat groups starting chiming with message after message.

    “Did you feel that?” “Earthquake?” My sister-in-law in central New Jersey, said it felt like a huge truck collided into her house.

    Another friend there said she felt strong shaking for what felt like 20 or so seconds. And yet another said his cat ran behind the sofa in fear.

  2. Evacuating Brooklyn in pyjamaspublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 5 April

    Madeline Halpert
    US reporter

    Nicki and Perra VleisidesImage source, Nicki Vleisides

    Nicki Vleisides and her mother Perra Vleisides were in an apartment building in Brooklyn when the earthquake hit. They felt the whole building shake - so they evacuated outside in their pyjamas.

    “We’re Californians so we knew right away there was an earthquake,” Nicki Vleisides says. “We were out the door in like two, three minutes.”

    Having experienced at least 10 serious earthquakes and dozens of small ones in her town of San Clemente, California, Perra says she was scared by the incident.

    Perra - who is visiting New York from California - says this was one of the strongest earthquakes she’s ever felt.

    “In California, when you have earthquakes and they’re strong, some buildings can absolutely come down. We’ve seen that and experienced that in Los Angeles,” she says.

    The mother and daughter tried their best to stay calm and get out of the building as quickly as possible.

  3. Earthquake felt across north-eastpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 5 April

    The magnitude 4.7 earthquake hit the north-eastern coast of the US about 10.20 local time.

    The earthquake was felt in several major cities, including Boston, New York and Philadelphia, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

    The earthquake was centred near Lebanon, New Jersey, the US Geological Survey said. That's about 40 miles (64km) west of New York City.

  4. Earthquake rattles New Yorkpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 5 April

    Brandon Livesay
    Reporting from New York

    Hello and welcome to our live coverage after a 4.8 magnitude earthquake was felt across New York and the surrounding areas.

    I'm in Brooklyn, where my apartment shook like a freight train was rumbling underneath it. A few jars fell from my kitchen shelf onto the floor, but no serious damage.

    It's unclear yet what has happened in other areas of New York, where earthquakes are rare.

    Stick with us.