According to the US Geological Survey, a 4.7-magnitude earthquake shook the New York City region on Friday morning, rattling buildings and shocking residents in an area that seldom suffers significant seismic activity.
The USGS reported that the earthquake's epicenter was in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. No damage was immediately reported.
The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre first recorded the earthquake at 5.5 on the Richter scale.
The earthquake was felt throughout the region, including New York City, New Jersey, northern Pennsylvania, and western Connecticut, according to Reuters journalists and social media.
Charita Walcott, 38, a resident of the Bronx region of New York, described the quake as "like a violent rumble that lasted about 30 seconds or so."
"It was kind of like being in a drum circle—that vibration," she said.
As cameras began to shiver, the CEO of Save the Children unexpectedly stopped speaking to the Security Council about the Israel-Gaza conflict at the United Nations in midtown Manhattan.
"You're making the ground shake," remarked Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has informed airlines that flights to New York City airports would be suspended until noon due to the earthquake, with delays of 30-45 minutes. FlightAware, a flight tracking service, said that several planes heading for New York were diverted to other airports.
"Air traffic operations are resuming as quickly as possible," the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced.