📍 What Happened?
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A magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey at 10:18 p.m. EDT on Saturday, August 2, 2025 (~02:18 UTC on August 3). The epicenter was approximately 6.2 miles (10 km) underground.
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Tremors were widely felt across central New Jersey and parts of New York City, including Upper Manhattan, The Bronx, and Staten Island.
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No injuries or structural damage have been reported. Residents described hearing a loud boom, followed by a brief shake lasting around ten seconds in some areas.
📊 Recent Seismic Activity in New Jersey
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A minor uptick in quakes has occurred in Morris County, including six small tremors (magnitude 0.7–2.0) over a 17-hour span.
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In 2025, New Jersey recorded about 12 earthquakes with magnitude ≥ 2.0—slightly below the long-term regional average.
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The most significant recent event was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake on April 5, 2024, centered near Tewksbury Township (Whitehouse Station), felt across the greater Northeast.
🕰️ Historical Context
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The April 2024 quake was the strongest to strike New Jersey in over 140 years, with aftershocks up to magnitude 3.7. No major damage or injuries were reported, but it was widely felt across multiple states.
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Before that, the largest recorded earthquake in New Jersey occurred on November 29, 1783, at magnitude 5.3. It caused intensity VII damage on the Mercalli scale in the colonial era.
🔍 Why It Matters
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While earthquakes are rare in the Northeast, any tremor over magnitude 3 captures attention due to its unusual nature.
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Most seismic events here are minor and shallow, resulting in minimal risk.
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The Ramapo Fault zone and other ancient faults exist beneath North Jersey—but no major seismic events have been traced to them recently.
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