Aftershock hits New Jersey

An aftershock from a spring quake hit New Jersey today, according to the USGS. At 12:57 p.m., the weak magnitude 1.5 event occurred near Califon from a depth of 4.5 km. Although it was weak, several people in New Jersey and New York reported to the USGS that they felt and/or heard today’s earthquake.

An earthquake sequence began in northern New Jersey on the morning of April 5, with a magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Tewksbury at 10:23 a.m. Since then, there have been more than 150 additional aftershocks, including two stronger ones.

Most aftershocks were barely noticeable. But the first earthquakes caused some damage. In Berkeley Heights, Union County, New Jersey, the Berkeley Heights Fire Department reported that the foundation of a home there had failed and that the first earthquake on April 5 was a contributing factor. A Brooklyn middle school gymnasium has been deemed unsafe after a Department of Buildings inspection found cracks inside. The rest of the school at 370 Fountain Avenue was determined to be safe. Dozens of gas and water leaks were reported in the region, leaving people without utilities such as electricity or water.

According to the USGS, April 5, 2024 occurred as a result of an oblique reverse and strike-slip fault at shallow depths in the crust. Although this event did not occur near a plate boundary, such “intraplate” earthquakes can and do occur. “While this earthquake is relatively small worldwide, earthquakes of this magnitude are commonly felt in the eastern United States due to the efficient propagation of seismic waves in the region,” the USGS said.