New Yorkers are apparently accustomed to explosions, so few noticed the earthquake that hit Queens until hours after this unusual incident.
A 1.7-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Astoria, Queens, early Tuesday morning after reports of what sounded like an explosion on Roosevelt Island. United States Geological Survey. There were no reports of injuries or damage in the area. WABC report.
Breaking news:
What sounded like an explosion on Roosevelt Island this morning turned out to be an earthquake. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 1.7 earthquake near Astoria, Queens.
This incident caused many residents to get out of bed.
There was nothing…— Talk Radio 77 WABC (@77WABCradio) January 2, 2024
Calls began coming in from Astoria and the Upper East Side around 5:45 a.m., right as the quake struck. “It sounded like a bomb going off,” one resident said, according to WABC. (Related: Evidence of a major U.S. earthquake 1,100 years ago suggests it could happen again)
“It sounded like an explosion, like a bomb going off. The building shook and we woke up. I called downstairs and was told the same thing had happened in all four buildings. ” said an unidentified resident.
Another resident of River Road Buildings 2 and 4, near the Roosevelt Island Bridge and tram, said he lost power.
“The elevator was stopped so we walked down. There was a lot of commotion going on,” the resident said, according to WABC. “No one knew what was going on.”
FDNY officials are investigating possible structural damage and Con Ed is investigating the power outage, according to the report.
The last time an earthquake hit New York State was in May, when Earthquake of magnitude 2.2 It hit Westchester County and New Jersey.
