Earthquake Shakes New York during UNSC Gaza Discussion

APP

New York: A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck New York City on Friday, causing a brief interruption during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting discussing the deteriorating situation in war-torn Gaza.

Janti Soeripto, representing ‘Save the Children,’ was describing the impact of the conflict on Gaza’s children when the tremor was felt in the building. Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour, seated next to her, humorously remarked, “You’re making the ground shake!”

The earthquake’s epicenter was near Lebanon, New Jersey. Residents along the East Coast, including New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Connecticut, reported feeling the quake, with some hearing a booming sound and experiencing building tremors.

Thankfully, there were no reports of significant damage, confirmed by the New York Fire Department.

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York took to X, formerly Twitter, to inform the public about the earthquake and assure them that her team was assessing any impacts or damage.

She warned residents to remain vigilant for aftershocks, noting that a quake of this magnitude hadn’t been experienced since the 5.8 magnitude earthquake in August 2011, the strongest to hit the East Coast since World War II.