The Statue of Liberty bore witness to an extraordinary event as a 4.8 magnitude earthquake rocked New York City and its neighboring areas on Friday morning, April 5. The incident, relatively rare for the region, prompted widespread attention as surveillance footage from atop the iconic statue captured the citys trembling, quickly becoming a viral sensation on social media. Although the earthquake caused no reported damages, its unexpected occurrence rattled residents in high-rise buildings across New York and Philadelphia.Viral Video of the EarthquakeThe viral video circulating on social media showcases the city experiencing tremors, with the camera atop the Statue of Liberty visibly shaking, reflecting the seismic activity felt in the area. New York Governor Kathy Hochul characterized the event as one of the largest earthquakes to hit the East Coast in the past century, highlighting the rare nature of the occurrence.Yesterday statue of liberty struck by the lightning and today earthquake hit New York City,what the hell is going on.#NewYorkCity #NewYork #NewJersey #earthquake #earthquakenyc pic.twitter.com/yPR3jTjrnw— The optimist✌ (@MuhamadOmair83) April 5, 2024Captivating Image of Lightning StrikeAdditionally, during the storm, a striking image captured by photographer Dan Martin and shared by The Optimist on X, depicted lightning dramatically striking the Statue of Liberty. The photograph captured the moment when a lightning bolt appeared to touch the torch held by Lady Liberty, adding to the dramatic scenes unfolding during the seismic activity.Details of the EarthquakeAccording to reports from the US Geological Survey and the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the earthquake measured at 4.8 magnitude initially and 5.5 magnitude on the Richter scale respectively. The quakes epicenter was near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Although the earthquake caused buildings to shake and surprised residents in an area unaccustomed to such seismic events, no immediate damage or casualties were reported.
