Gladstone, New Jersey experienced a 2.6-magnitude aftershock on Wednesday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The aftershock occurred just before 10:30 a.m., following closely after a notable earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 that shook the East Coast on Friday morning.
The epicenter of the aftershock was near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, located about 60 miles northeast of Philadelphia, with a depth of approximately 3 miles, as reported by the USGS.
Throughout the day, several additional aftershocks were felt in the area, with experts warning that aftershocks could continue to be felt for up to a week after the initial earthquake.
Friday’s earthquake marked the largest seismic event in the region since 1973. An earthquake between 4.0 and 4.9 is classified as minor to moderate, and it is estimated that there are around 13,000 earthquakes in this range worldwide each year, according to data from Penn State University.
The strongest earthquake recorded in the Philadelphia area prior to Friday’s event was a 4.6 magnitude quake in Sinking Spring, Berks County, on January 16, 1994.
The impact of Friday’s earthquake was widely felt, with over 120,000 people reporting feeling the tremors to the USGS. Reports of shaking extended from Delaware to Connecticut and as far north as upstate New York.
