Earthquake strikes near Maine's coast, shaking felt in Boston

A 3.8 magnitude earthquake was detected Monday, nearly seven miles south of York Harbor, Maine, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Earthquake today near Boston

What we know:

The earthquake took place at about 10:22 a.m. on Monday and was centered about six miles (10 kilometers) southeast of York Harbor in southern Maine, the United States Geological Survey reported. It was reported at a depth of about eight miles (13 kilometers) the survey said.

Officials said the quake could be felt in every state in New England and as far away as Pennsylvania. In southern Maine, many residents reported feeling houses and buildings shake as the surprising earthquake interrupted a sunny winter morning.

The quake sent residents and officials in Maine and New Hampshire looking to assess any possible damage. In most cases, residents and businesses reported confusion over what had happened. Many shared stories on social media indicating they initially thought there may have been a nearby car accident or possibly an explosion.

What we don't know:

The Maine Emergency Management Agency asked residents to only call 911 in the event of an emergency. The earthquake did not appear to cause major damage, said Vanessa Corson, a spokesperson for the agency. Corson also said local emergency management agencies did not report any damage.

New Hampshire’s Department of Safety said the state's 911 number did not receive any calls about damage or injuries.

"We have not received word of any issues. We’ve spoken with the directors at York and Cumberland County EMA, and everything seems to be in order," Corson said.

Local perspective:

Meanwhile, parts of New Jersey were rattled by a 2.4 magnitude earthquake on Friday afternoon, according to the USGS.

The USGS says the earthquake happened around 1:02 p.m in Bergen County, between Paramus and River Edge. 

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Earthquake near Paramus, NJ: Did you feel it?

The USGS says the earthquake happened around 1:02 p.m in Bergen County between Paramus and River Edge.

Earthquakes are less common on the eastern than on the western edges of the U.S. because the East Coast does not lie on a boundary of tectonic plates. 

Earthquake NYC in April 2024

The backstory:

Back on April 5, 2024, a 4.8-magnitude earthquake shook NYC and the Tri-State area.

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NJ fault line discovery: Explaining unusual NYC area shaking from April's earthquake

The discovery of a new fault line may explain the unusually strong and displaced shaking from April’s magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck the heart of New Jersey, a new research study shows.

What is an aftershock?

Dig deeper:

Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that occur in the same general area during the hours, days and years following a larger quake, or the "mainshock," according to the USGS. 

Aftershocks usually mean that the ground is readjusting itself following the main earthquake. 

USGS earthquake map

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