Magnitude 3.8 Earthquake Shakes New England, Felt from Boston to Maine
CNN — A magnitude 3.8 earthquake struck parts of New England on Monday morning, with shaking reported from Boston to Portland, Maine, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The earthquake’s epicenter was located about 7 miles southeast of York Harbor, Maine, at a depth of roughly 8 miles, the USGS said. Initially, the magnitude was estimated at 3.9 before being revised.
Amelia Nadilo, who was less than 10 miles from the epicenter, described the terrifying experience as “10 to 15 seconds” of intense shaking.
“It felt as if the furnace was blowing up, a truck was hitting our building, and our solar panels were falling off – all at the same time,” said Nadilo, executive director of York Land Trust. “It was so loud, and we all ran out of our offices to make sure everyone was OK.”
The York County Emergency Management Agency confirmed the quake, urging residents to avoid calling 911 unless in need of emergency assistance.
“We can confirm that a small earthquake occurred at 10:22 a.m. Shaking was felt countywide,” the agency posted on X. “No risk remains to the public. To assist our dispatch centers, please DO NOT call 911 unless it is an emergency.”
Though unexpected, the quake serves as a reminder for businesses, schools, and homeowners to develop earthquake safety protocols, Nadilo said.
“To have one of those in Maine was pretty shocking,” she noted. “We certainly do not have an earthquake plan or protocol, so that’s something we should consider.”
Not Linked to New Jersey Quake
USGS seismologist Susan Hough told CNN the tremor is unlikely to be connected to the magnitude 2.4 earthquake that struck northern New Jersey and the New York City metro area on Friday. The two quakes, separated by about 230 miles, appear to be unrelated.
“The Atlantic Seaboard is considered a passive plate boundary, as opposed to the active plate boundary on the West Coast, so the quakes tend to be smaller and much less frequent,” Hough explained.
However, quakes like Monday’s event and a magnitude 4.8 tremor in metro New York in April can lead to increased seismic activity in the region.
“Statistically, earthquake activity always increases the chances of more activity – you’ve disturbed the crust,” Hough said.
Moderately damaging earthquakes occur in New England every few decades, with smaller tremors felt about twice a year, according to the USGS.
The last notable earthquake to cause moderate damage in the region was a magnitude 5.6 quake in central New Hampshire in 1940.
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