(Image from Northeastern Global News)
Introduction to the Earthquake
Earthquakes rarely occur in New Jersey, is what most people tend to say, however, quite the opposite happened at around 10:20 am EST on April 5th, 2024. While it was originally a normal morning in the northeast, shockingly a 4.8 magnitude earthquake rattled buildings in Maryland and Maine according to NBC News. Additionally, this has been the strongest earthquake to hit New Jersey in over 200 years! Still, there’s much more to uncover about this earthquake and everything about it, so let it be explained!
Why did the Earthquake happen?
Well, most earthquakes occur due to “sudden movements along faults within the Earth” according to the British Geological Survey. To be even more in-depth, tectonic plates which are parts of rock that divide Earth’s current crust, are always moving. Usually, they are moving slowly but at times their sides could get stuck, causing friction. Stress is then created due to the pressure of the edge’s friction, causing what most know as an earthquake. This earthquake releases energy in the form of waves between the Earth’s crust, hence explaining the shaking felt. This is usually the explanation for most earthquakes, however, since this earthquake is still fairly new, according to a statement by Jessica Jobe, a USGS Geologist, provided by NBC News yet again, “‘At this time, the fault that caused the earthquake isn’t yet known,’” Hopefully with further research, the more specific cause of this earthquake will be discovered.
Aftermath of the Earthquake
Due to the Earthquake not being overly powerful, no places were majorly affected. Most infrastructures and areas in New Jersey, New York, and other locations received brief checks for any signs of damage or instability. Furthermore, only three people had to be evacuated due to the questionable stability of their homes, according to Fox Weather. Plus, there was no major damage or injuries to be reported from the incident either. However, aftershocks from the earthquake have occurred. Aftershocks are when small readjustments happen near the faults. As transpired by NBC New York, “More than 50 aftershocks have been recorded after a 4.8-magnitude earthquake in New Jersey” While this information may shock many, aftershocks are quite normal and not something to be overly concerned about. Many people also associate aftershocks as mini earthquakes and oftentimes these aftershocks aren’t powerful enough to be felt. Aftershocks can also occur for days, weeks, months, and even years after in the area where the earthquake primarily occurred. Overall, while this has been a rather shocking event for people in the northeast, thankfully nothing terrible has occurred and everyone is safe from it.