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Another minor earthquake rattles New Jersey, second in 3 days
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Aug 5, 2025
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Screenshot courtesy USGS
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Aug 5, 2025
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A minor earthquake shook New Jersey around noon on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was the second seismic event to hit the state in just three days.
The 2.7 magnitude quake struck at 12:11 p.m. about a mile southwest of Hillsdale, a borough in Bergen County, the USGS said. No damage or injuries have been reported.
On Saturday night, a 3.0-magnitude earthquake was felt in parts of New Jersey and New York. That one originated in Hasbrouck Heights, roughly 10 miles south of Hillsdale.
Seismologists said such small earthquakes are not unusual for the region. A 2.9 magnitude quake shook Somerset County in April 2024, just weeks after a rare 4.8 magnitude temblor rattled millions across the tristate area and caused minor damage in Newark.
Although the Northeast is far from active plate boundaries, scientists say that older fault lines, some dating back hundreds of millions of years, can still be reactivated.
“Under the current stresses of tectonic plates moving, those faults can be intermittently reactivated,” USGS research geologist Jessica Thompson Jobe said in a release after the April quake.
The USGS has since installed several monitoring stations in New Jersey to track ongoing seismic activity.
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Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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