A 4.8-magnitude earthquake centered in northern New Jersey jolted millions of people on Friday morning, causing no major damage but sparking widespread concern.

Throughout the day, at least 10 aftershocks were felt, including a 3.8-magnitude aftershock near Gladstone, New Jersey, on Friday evening that also rattled parts of the area.

The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed that the initial earthquake occurred near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, approximately 45 miles west of New York City, at 10:23 a.m. This was the largest earthquake in the Tri-State area since 1973.

The ground shaking was felt by people from Baltimore to Boston and beyond. While there were no immediate reports of serious damage, officials checked bridges and other major infrastructure for safety. Some flights were diverted or delayed, Amtrak slowed trains along the busy Northeast Corridor, and a Philadelphia-area commuter rail line suspended service as a precautionary measure.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams reassured the public, stating, “Our preliminary reports show no major life safety concerns or infrastructure issues resulting from the earthquake. We are conducting thorough inspections of critical areas.” Adams encouraged New Yorkers to continue with their daily routines.

Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy reported “limited damage” across the state, with assessment teams actively gathering information.

According to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data, the earthquake was felt by more than 42 million people.

AFTER SHOCKS RISK

Around 11:20 a.m., a magnitude 2.0 aftershock was reported near Bedminster, New Jersey. Later, at 1:32 p.m., a second aftershock of magnitude 2.2 occurred a few miles south of the first, in southwestern Somerset County.

By Friday afternoon, approximately 10 aftershocks had been felt, with the largest being a 4.0-magnitude aftershock in Gladstone, New Jersey.