Just after 10:18 pm on the second of August, 2025, a 3.0 event struck Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. The USGS documented that the earthquake originated 10 kilometres beneath the surface of the Earth.
Shaking was felt in north New Jersey and New York City, with Manhattan and Staten Island among those affected. Thousands stated that they had heard or felt a very short rumbling or shaking; some called it “a boom” that startled them.
While this does convey a minor event, it was strong enough to make the buildings shake and also cause a fuss online. Something like “Did we just have an earthquake in NJ?” and “Was there just an earthquake in NYC?” started coming up on social media.
The earthquake in NJ this morning rippled through the tri-state area. Immediately after, a surge in looking for confirmations about that sudden shaking was felt.
A 3.0 quake struck Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, just after 10:18 pm on August 2, 2025.
What did residents feel across the region?
The report of mild shaking came from multiple boroughs—Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Vibrations were also felt by the residents of Jersey City, Newark, and Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.
Most said the event felt like a jolt or a distant rumbling. No structural damage or injuries were recorded by local emergency departments and NYC Emergency Management.
The very abrupt nature of the earthquake in New Jersey left many people extra jittery. Some people said it felt similar to a heavy truck passing, while others felt furniture shaking for a moment.
A Bergen County resident said, “The couch shook under me—I thought I was imagining it!” Authorities confirmed today that the earthquakes in New York did not warrant the deployment of emergency services.
The tremor was categorised by the USGS earthquake report as being light, consistent with prior activity in the area.
Earthquake NJ: A historical pattern repeats
This has not been an entirely unforeseen earthquake in Hasbrouck Heights. New Jersey sits on the Ramapo Fault zone, which is a known seismic area.
The great reason was that the East is less earthquake-prone than California, but such tremors are, in fact, not all that rare. Back in early April 2024, a magnitude 4.8 quake near Tewksbury fertilised the debate in Boston.
The event rekindled the debate on earthquake preparedness for the region. The larger ones have been felt around New Jersey-Ca. Intensity 5.3 in 1783.
Today’s small NJ earthquake nevertheless serves as a reminder that the terrain in this region is not at all stable.
A 4.8 quake near Tewksbury in April 2024 reignited seismic debate as far as Boston.
Could this NYC earthquake cause aftershocks?
Small aftershocks may occur within hours or days after the main shock, says USGS. Many of these aftershocks are too weak to be felt, but some may register a low magnitude on the Richter scale.
Residents are advised to check for any loose objects or cracks in structures, mainly in older buildings. No reports of widespread damage have emerged from either New Jersey or New York yet.
During situations like this, experts advise people to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” if they feel another tremor. Safety preparedness is still important despite today’s earthquake not being dangerous in NYC.
What time was the earthquake in NYC today?
The tremor struck at 10:18 pm Eastern Time, shaking New Jersey and parts of New York City. Residents of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, and Bergen County areas in North Jersey felt the quake quite strongly.
Queries like “earthquake near me”, “earthquake today NYC just now”, and “earthquake NJ just now” saw a soaring trend within a few minutes. The USGS Earthquake Map then listed the event under the “Minor Earthquake” category, with a magnitude scale of 3.0.
The epicentre of the quake was located at Hasbrouck Heights, just 12 kilometres west of Manhattan. Although it was small, this quake raised great panic in both New Jersey and New York.
Earthquake in New York raises fresh safety questions
Today, a little earthquake alongside NYC shook confidence in the city’s readiness for seismic events. No alerts or alarms were triggered; thus, the quake served as a reminder of earthquake awareness.
Experts say that if a stronger quake were to occur, older buildings, particularly those constructed in the pre-war period, may be at risk. Now, Jersey City, Staten Island, and Manhattan officials are revisiting emergency planning.
Some voices asked, “Was there just an earthquake in New Jersey?” while others shared videos of lights swinging. A sensation brief for 5 to 10 seconds was enough, however, to awaken those who were asleep.
Though the New York earthquake today was minor, it once again stirred calls for early-warning systems in the eastern U.S.
Also Read: Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake Rocks WA’s Wheatbelt
Conclusion: A mild quake, but a loud message
The 3.0 magnitude earthquake that struck New Jersey today, with the epicentre in Hasbrouck Heights, actually shook its presence across two states. The earthquakes did not cause any harm or destruction whatsoever; rather, they served as a wake-up call for both New York and New Jersey.
With various fault lines running beneath the region, even minor tremors such as this one should raise caution and call for some preparedness.
As tremors become more discernible in NJ and NY, the regional planners and emergency management teams will be forced to adjust. The occurrence also highlights the necessity for public awareness and timely communication.
