A magnitude 2.9 earthquake shook New Jersey on Saturday morning, with its epicenter near Gladstone in Somerset County, approximately 50 miles from New York City. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake occurred at 9:49 a.m.
Fortunately, officials from New Jersey’s Office of Emergency Management reported no damage to structures, roads, or infrastructure as a result of the earthquake.
This seismic event occurred three weeks after a rare 4.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the region, which was felt across New York City. Although the previous quake did not cause any structural damage or injuries, it prompted Newark to evacuate some residents as a precaution.
Seismologists had previously warned of potential aftershocks following the initial quake on April 5. Since then, the USGS has recorded at least 50 aftershocks ranging from magnitude 1.3 to 3.8.
Despite the absence of active fault lines in the area, older inactive fault lines dating back millions of years can be intermittently reactivated due to the current stresses of tectonic plate movement, as explained by Jessica Thompson Jobe, a research geologist with the USGS.