Mild Earthquake Felt Near New York City

C.G. Hoffman

This year, the secular new year has been rung in by a… rumble? Numerous residents in Queens and Roosevelt Island reported feeling a mild shaking on the morning of January 2, 2024.

A magnitude 1.7 earthquake shook the borough of Queens, centered in the neighborhood of Astoria, at about 5:45 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Although there was no damage reported in Queens, the scene was a little more chaotic on Roosevelt Island, with some areas, including the Tram, reporting short power outages. By 11:30 this morning, NYC officials reported that everything was back to normal.

Although earthquakes are rare in the New York City area, a 2.2 magnitude quake shook Westchester Country, just north of the city, last May. The Queens mini-quake was not the only report of tremors today, as parts of Maryland close to Washington D.C. were hit with a 2.3 magnitude quake at 1 am.

Initially, some residents reported the Queens quake as an explosion, as the rumblings had some frightened residents running from their homes.

Although no injuries or significant damages were reported, NY officials urge residents to report any damages to property that residents might have sustained.