An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.1 occurred at a depth of 5 km and was recorded at about 2 am local time, according to the US Geological Survey. The cataclysm could even be felt in parts of New York, including Brooklyn.
The probability of an earthquake on the east coast of America is 100 times lower than on the west coast of California, located above the tectonic bed. Many New Jersey residents, alarmed by the rare phenomenon in these places, have shared their stressful experiences on social media.
One homeowner said his house shook for three seconds.
Natalie Torchia wrote: “In the center of New Jersey, this is so unusual that at first no one knew what to think.
«I'm from Old Bridge in New Jersey, but my friends in Brooklyn felt it too.»
“At first I thought that something exploded nearby, or a car crashed into our house, or something like that,” added another eyewitness.
According to Monmouth County Sheriff Sean Golden, no casualties or serious damage is known to date. Most of the calls received by emergency services come from residents wanting to know what happened.
One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the eastern United States occurred on August 23, 2011. Its magnitude was 5.8.
