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Actually, that was an earthquake that shook Queens, officials say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jan 2, 2024
Modified Jan 2, 2024
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By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jan 2, 2024
Modified Jan 2, 2024
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Some New Yorkers experienced a shaky start to the first work week of the new year.
The United States Geological Survey, which monitors earthquake activity, confirmed that a 1.7 magnitude quake rattled Astoria, Queens, and surrounding areas around 5:45 Tuesday morning not a building explosion as some Roosevelt Island and residents elsewhere initially reported to authorities..
“In this case, it was an earthquake that shook the building. And because people in this area of New York are not used to earthquakes, they didn't know what it was,” said Jessica Turner, a geophysicist with the USGS.
While a 1.7 magnitude earthquake is “tiny,” according to Turner, she noted that some residents may have felt more pronounced shaking because they live in high-rise buildings directly on top of where the quake occurred. It wouldn’t have been enough to cause serious damage to buildings, but could have knocked books of their shelves. There were no reports of any damage.
“The upper floors may have felt it more than people on the bottom floor,” she said,
“And a lot of people kind of think the vibrations are similar to the passing of a truck.”
Those closest to the activity may have experienced more of a “boom,” Turner said–leading to initial reports of an explosion in a building at 580 Main St., directly below the Tram line on Roosevelt Island.
An aerial view of Roosevelt Island. The United States Geological Survey, which monitors earthquake activity, confirmed that a 1.7 magnitude quake rattled Astoria, Queens, and surrounding areas around 5:45 Tuesday morning not a building explosion as some Roosevelt Island and residents elsewhere initially reported to authorities.
Getty images
“At 5:45 in the morning, we woke with what sounded like a large bang, and the whole building sort of moved in response to the bang,” said Jennifer Cohen, who lives on Roosevelt Island across the street from the building where the explosion was reported. “I’ve never been through an earthquake, but it didn’t really feel like an earthquake.”
Cohen said the first big bang was followed by two smaller ones, minutes later. They still shook her building, but were not as intense.
“It was as if someone slammed the apartment door and made the apartment shake, but times a lot,” she said. “It was simultaneous.”
About 15 minutes later, Cohen said she saw helicopters and emergency vehicles arrive on the Island.
The New York City Emergency Management Department posted an alert on X right before 7:30 a.m., warning of road closures, mass transit disruptions and emergency personnel near Roosevelt Island.
No injuries were reported, and FDNY units investigated the cause of the suspected blast along with personnel from power company Con Edison.
Early Tuesday afternoon, ConEd spokesperson Allan Drury said crews found no damage, no outages, and no explosions connected with any of their equipment.
Meanwhile, residents as far away as Manhattan’s Upper East side and Long Island City took to social media wondering if they’d felt an earthquake.
“Was that an earthquake that just happened in NYC? Woke me up woah,” said user Lugo.eth.
According to the USGS, they were right.
Tagged
roosevelt island
new york city
earthquake
public safety
nypd
explosion
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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