NotifyNYC issued the following alert on January 2, 2024, at 11:26AM:
“The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports that a 1.7 magnitude earthquake has occurred near Astoria, Queens. The earthquake has reportedly been felt in the New York City area, but there are no reports of injuries or damage in New York City at this time.”
According to Thomas Pratt, a research geophysicist for the U.S. Geological Survey, numerous small earthquakes take place in NYC each year. However, as these earthquakes are very gentle, they mostly go unnoticed and undetected. “The most significant tremors recorded in New York City occurred in 1884,” remarked Mr. Pratt, “when a 5.2 magnitude earthquake rumbled from beneath Coney Island.” While people usually would not feel a 1.7 magnitude earthquake, the one that occurred on January 2 was relatively close to the surface of the Earth.
by Selina Ma