A security camera atop the Statue of Liberty filmed a stunning incident on Friday when a rare 4.8 magnitude earthquake rocked New York City. The seismic activity, which was unusual for the region, rocked millions of people from New York and Philadelphia skyscrapers to rural New England, causing no extensive damage but shocking an area unaccustomed to earthquakes.
According to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, it was “one of the largest earthquakes on the East Coast in the last century”.
Watch the video of the Statue of Liberty shaking during the earthquake
Another viral photograph showed lightning striking the Statue of Liberty during a storm. Photographer Dan Martin captured the stunning image, which shows a lightning bolt appearing to touch Lady Liberty’s torch.
No severe damage or casualties were recorded
The epicenter of Friday’s earthquake was Tewksbury, central New Jersey, roughly 64 km west of New York City. The US Geological Survey reported that it occurred shortly after 10:20 a.m. ET (1420 GMT) at a depth of 4.7 kilometers.
Though no severe damage or casualties were recorded, police advised residents to seek shelter under furniture, in a doorway, or against an inner wall if they felt aftershocks.
US President Joe Biden spoke with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy about the earthquake, and the administration will assist as needed, according to a White House statement.
The earthquake on Friday was the largest felt in New York City since a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in Virginia in 2011, which forced the evacuation of City Hall and other buildings and caused damage in Washington.
