This Friday, an unusual East Coast earthquake in the United States shook millions of people from New York to rural New England. According to preliminary measurements from the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake that occurred this morning had a magnitude of 4.8 and its epicenter was near Whitehouse Station in New Jersey, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of New York City and about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Philadelphia.
Despite not causing widespread damage, the earthquake shook the ground among about 42 million people in the region, according to British media on April 6. Three multifamily homes in Newark, New Jersey, were evacuated as damage was checked, leaving nearly 30 people homeless.
Officials in the area are inspecting bridges and other critical infrastructure, some flights have been forced to be diverted or delayed, Amtrak has slowed trains throughout the busy Northeast Corridor, and commuter rail lines in the Philadelphia area have been suspended as a precautionary measure.
Eyewitnesses described experiences during the earthquake. Christian Thompson recalls her husband telling her over the phone that pictures and decorative plates in the house near Whitehouse Station had fallen off the wall, scaring her dog into running around like crazy. In Midtown Manhattan, lawyer Sean Clark felt the earthquake and initially feared it was an explosion or a construction accident.
Earthquakes on the East Coast are rarer than in the western United States because they are not located on the boundaries of tectonic plates. However, since 1950, 13 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or stronger have been recorded in the region within 500 kilometers (311 miles) of Friday's epicenter. Scientists note that rocks on the east coast are more efficient at propagating seismic energy over longer distances than in the west.
Although the 4.8 magnitude earthquake was not enough to cause significant damage, it did cause some disruption. Flights to New York, Newark and Baltimore airports were suspended for a period of time, and they were checked for cracks. Some flights were forced to be diverted and landed at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and some passengers rented cars to go home.
The Port Authority of New York City and New Jersey said traffic in the Holland Tunnel between Jersey City and Manhattan was suspended for about 10 minutes due to inspection work. In Midtown Manhattan, cars honk their horns in the trembling streets. Some Brooklyn residents heard a loud bang and felt their building shaking.
It is reported that spokesman Adam Klein said: "For a period of time, cell phone signals were overloaded and people tried to contact their loved ones. Later, an earthquake-related notification appeared on the phone, disrupting the New York Philharmonic's morning performance. ”
At the United Nations headquarters in New York, meetings during the earthquake were interrupted and people were evacuated to a safe area of the building. However, the City has reported no major safety issues or infrastructure damage.
New York City's buildings are constructed with high-strength materials and are designed to rock slowly and are considered safe during earthquakes. Engineers assure the public that a high-rise building could be one of the safest places in this situation. In the aftermath of the earthquake, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to confirm that the government would provide assistance if needed.
Japan will provide $1 million in aid to Taiwan to support post-earthquake relief and recovery efforts
Notably, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said on Friday that Japan will provide $1 million in aid to Taiwan for rescue and recovery efforts in response to the powerful earthquake that struck earlier this week.
Yoko Uekawa said at a press conference, "As important partners and friends, Japan and Taiwan have always supported each other in the face of difficulties. She added that Tokyo will continue to support Taiwan and that this emergency assistance will be provided through the Japan Taiwan Exchange Association.
It is reported that the earthquake shook the eastern part of Taiwan on Wednesday, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 1,000 people. Japanese media believe that the assistance provided by Japan this time will help Taiwan cope with post-disaster challenges, including emergency relief, medical assistance, reconstruction work and infrastructure repair.
In January, at the beginning of the Japanese New Year, Taiwan supported a powerful earthquake that struck and the Noto Peninsula in central Japan and surrounding areas.
According to Taiwan's earthquake monitoring department, the epicenter of the earthquake was about 20 kilometers deep, and the epicenter was located in the sea east of Taiwan. The earthquake caused severe damage, including collapsed buildings, damaged roads, and power outages. Taiwan immediately launched emergency relief and post-disaster recovery efforts to ensure the security and stability of the affected areas.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa also said that Japan will continue to maintain close ties with Taiwan and jointly cope with future challenges and difficulties.