The fault that burst beneath New Jersey on Friday morning was likely an old, sleeping seam awoken by natural forces in a location with few earthquakes and unknown seismic risks.
The magnitude-4.8 earthquake was New Jersey's strongest in 200 years. Friday, experts began pinpointing the rupture site as the quake subsided.
“This region has many older faults that can reactivate. The fault that triggered the earthquake is unknown, said USGS research geologist Jessica Jobe. A U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist reported at least 12 aftershocks after this morning's earthquake.
Geophysicist Timothy Clements said they can reignite dread from the original temblor but also warn people that a stronger quake is unlikely. "The likelihood of larger earthquake happening is going down with time," said former Harvard earth and planetary science researcher Clements in California.
Aftershocks today include the 4.0 magnitude temblor before 6 p.m. and at least 11 others with Richter scale magnitudes of 1.8 or higher, Clements added. Further aftershocks under magnitude 1.8 were not recorded, he said.
According to Clements, earthquakes around the epicenter are aftershocks for a year or five. Separate quakes might occur from the epicenter. Many transplants from earthquake-prone places aren't as shocked as New York tri-state residents are trying to understand Friday's 4.8-magnitude earthquake.
The East Coast quake didn't bother many people whose loved ones are from Taiwan, which just experienced a big 7.4-magnitude quake, or California, where earthquakes are common.
“4.7 magnitude earthquake has occurred in NYC,” the notice added. Residents should stay indoors and call 911 if hurt.”Aftershocks are probable following such an earthquake, thus the alarm may remind you to stay attentive. The area's greatest earthquake in 40 years occurred Feb. 6, 2023, near Buffalo, New York, with a 3.8 magnitude.
A 5.8-magnitude earthquake in central Virginia in 2011 shook the East Coast, driving hundreds of thousands of people to flee New York, Washington, and other places.
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