2.7 earthquake hits Hillsdale, N.J. days after 3.0 quake struck Bergen County
A 2.7 magnitude earthquake shook near Hillsdale, New Jersey, on Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
It happened at 12:11 p.m. about 7.7 miles deep and just 1.25 miles southwest of Hillsdale, the agency said.
CBS News New York's Nick Caloway reported the ground rumbled in Ridgewood for about five seconds, then stopped.
"So far, we've received approximately 290 felt reports this morning on this earthquake. This is a smaller earthquake than the one that occurred over the weekend," the USGS said in a statement.
"We are aware of the USGS confirmed 2.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred near Hillsdale. Bergen County OEM is currently assessing damage. There has been no report of damage at this time," Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said.
Workers in Hillsdale businesses describe the quake
Hillsdale Library assistant librarian Ann Kasenchak said she was putting away some books when the rumbling started.
"I was on the second floor and I heard what sounded like a very loud crunch, which I thought was coming from outside," Kasenchak said. "Two of my co-workers were like, 'Did you feel that?' And we all did."
Anna Peterseil, owner of Yarn Diva on Hillsdale Avenue, said, "It's like strange feeling. Yeah, maybe a little bit of a shake, right? But not a lot. Two days ago, the one in Hasbrouck Heights, got a little stronger."
At Hometown Hardware and Paint in nearby Closter, with its high shelving and heavy equipment, manager Andrew Buck said nothing wobbled, but added the quake made a startling noise.
"Just that solid 'boom.' Almost sounded like an auto accident," Buck said. "It sounded like a tree just fell and smacked into the building. My guy here, RJ, got an alert that was an earthquake and that's when I knew. The last three that I heard about were in the last like year."
The quake was also felt in Leonia and other surrounding communities, Leonia police said.
"Tremors may have been felt in parts of New York City," New York City Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry said. "No immediate protective action is needed unless you experienced damage. If you felt shaking, check for hazards such as shifted items, falling debris, or cracks."
"No major impacts reported at this time," Daughtry added.
3.0 magnitude quake hit Saturday night
Tuesday's incident comes on the heels of a 3.0-magnitude earthquake in Bergen County's Hasbrouck Heights Saturday night that rattled parts of New Jersey and New York. Saturday night's earthquake was felt up to 65 miles away in parts of New York's Lower Hudson Valley and western Connecticut.
A 3.0 earthquake is considered relatively weak on the 1-9 Richter Scale, where 9 is the strongest.
Officials cautioned about the possibility of aftershocks over the next few days.
In the event of aftershocks or additional earthquakes, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management says people should drop to the ground under something sturdy and hold on until the shaking stops. If you're in bed, it's best to stay there and protect your head with a pillow.
For more information about earthquakes and earthquake safety, click here.
Past earthquakes in the Tri-State Area
There's been a recent series of small quakes in the area. On July 21, there was a 1.6 in magnitude quake, and a 2.0 magnitude aftershock hit the next day. Fortunately, there was no major damage, if any, reported in those incidents.
The Ramapo Fault runs through north central New Jersey and typically produces several small quakes, which are not felt far from outside their epicenters in northern New Jersey.
On April 5, 2024, a 4.8 magnitude quake centered in Tewksbury, New Jersey, shook buildings in New York City and was felt up and down the East Coast by some 42 million people from Virginia to Maine, according to the USGS. More than 205 aftershocks carried on for weeks, including a 3.7 magnitude quake that took place just seven hours after the initial quake.
The earthquake of April 5, 2024, was also the second strongest earthquake in New Jersey history. The strongest quake recorded in the Garden State occurred on Nov. 29, 1783 and registered a 5.3 in magnitude.