East Coast experiences two minor earthquakes within three days

The East Coast experienced another earthquake on Monday, marking the second seismic event in three days. The 3.8-magnitude quake occurred in York, Maine, approximately 44 miles south of Portland, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Its impact was felt as far south as Boston and in areas like New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

This follows a previous 2.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Paramus, New Jersey, on January 24, about 22 miles from New York City. Notably, this is the second time New Jersey has experienced an earthquake recently; a 4.8-magnitude tremor hit the state in April 2024.

Oliver S. Boyd, a research geophysicist with the USGS, commented on the rarity and unpredictability of earthquakes in the Central and Eastern United States (CEUS). "Earthquakes, particularly in the Central and Eastern United States (CEUS), are relatively infrequent and difficult to predict," Boyd told Realtor.com.

The USGS indicates that earthquakes along the East Coast present challenges due to difficulties in identifying active faults. A fault is described as a three-dimensional surface within the Earth that may or may not reach its surface. In contrast, a fault line is where such a fault intersects with Earth's surface.

Boyd explained that "the CEUS sits within the North American plate and doesn’t have well-developed faults that can be seen at the surface along plate boundaries," unlike California's San Andreas Fault. Additionally, greater humidity levels in eastern regions accelerate processes that erase evidence of fault lines more rapidly than in western areas.

Cities like Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., located along the Eastern Seaboard, are generally not prone to earthquakes due to their position within tectonic plates. "Being in the middle of a plate also makes earthquakes much less frequent," Boyd noted.

According to Maine's Geological Survey, Monday's earthquake ties for being the third strongest since 1997 but is not uncommon for Maine. "In 2024, Maine only experienced three earthquakes greater than M2 (all less than M3). Within 60 miles of today’s earthquake they are a little more frequent and tend to occur in Central New Hampshire," said Boyd.

He further mentioned that damaging earthquakes near Monday's location occur roughly every 500 years on average—the last one being near Bar Harbor, Maine, in 1904.

Emergency officials reported numerous calls to emergency services following Monday’s quake but confirmed no injuries or significant damage occurred. Boyd reassured residents: “Having two earthquakes along the East Coast within a week of each other a couple hundred miles apart is not unusual and not a cause for alarm.”