A Rare but Minor Earthquake Rattles Boston Area
A rare but minor earthquake struck the Boston area on Monday morning, shaking buildings and rattling residents. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) rated the shaking as a magnitude 3.8, downgraded from the initial magnitude of 4.1. The earthquake was centered off the coast of New Hampshire and Maine in York Harbor, about 12 miles underground.
The quake sent residents and officials in Maine and New Hampshire scrambling to assess any possible damage. While many reported feeling the shake, most reported no apparent damage. Some residents initially thought the shaking was caused by a nearby car accident or explosion.
The Maine Emergency Management Agency asked residents to only call 911 in the event of an emergency, and local emergency management agencies reported no damage. New Hampshire’s Department of Safety also reported no calls about damage or injuries. Massport stated that there were no issues or pauses in operations at Boston Logan International Airport.
The earthquake was felt across the region, as far away as New Haven, Connecticut, and Albany, New York. If you felt the quake, you can report it to the USGS.
While earthquakes in the center and eastern parts of the US are less frequent than in western states, they are typically felt over a much broader region. According to the USGS, it’s common for there to be two small earthquakes a year in New England. The Boston area felt shaking from a 4.8 magnitude earthquake centered in New Jersey last year.
Experts noted that an earthquake of close to 4.0 or slightly higher in magnitude in the Northeast states “is not particularly common, but it’s not all that rare, either.” The area has seen several notable earthquakes in the past, including a 5.1 magnitude earthquake in upstate New York in 2002 and a magnitude 4.7 event near Hollis Center, Maine, in 2012.
