A significant emergency response was initiated this morning on Roosevelt Island in New York City following reports of multiple explosions.
Distinctive “booms” accompanied by noticeable shaking prompted emergency crews to respond to the 580 block of Main Street, situated south of the Roosevelt Island Bridge & Tram, shortly before 6 am. The FDNY informed MailOnline that they were alerted to the incident by reports of an explosion and structural vibrations.
The source and origin of these loud booms that frightened the residents remained unknown for most of the day as investigations took place. Now it has been determined that a minor–“tiny” in fact–earthquake hit Queens this morning. Since seismic activity is rare in the area, residents did not recognize it for what it was.
Residents of Roosevelt Island reported being abruptly awakened this morning by at least three instances of booming sounds and shaking, with the third occurrence of vibration being perceptible even farther away.
The United States Geological Survey, which monitors earthquake activity, confirmed that a 1.7 magnitude quake rattled Astoria, Queens, and surrounding areas around 5:45 Tuesday morning not a building explosion as some Roosevelt Island and residents elsewhere initially reported to authorities.
“In this case, it was an earthquake that shook the building. And because people in this area of New York are not used to earthquakes, they didn’t know what it was,” said Jessica Turner, a geophysicist with the USGS.
While a 1.7 magnitude earthquake is “tiny,” according to Turner, she noted that some residents may have felt more pronounced shaking because they live in high-rise buildings directly on top of where the quake occurred. It wouldn’t have been enough to cause serious damage to buildings, but could have knocked books off their shelves. There were no reports of any damage.
“The upper floors may have felt it more than people on the bottom floor,” she said,
“And a lot of people kind of think the vibrations are similar to the passing of a truck.”
Those closest to the activity may have experienced more of a “boom,” Turner said–leading to initial reports of an explosion in a building at 580 Main St., directly below the Tram line on Roosevelt Island.
