2.6-Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Somerset County

GLADSTONE, NJ — A 2.6 magnitude earthquake rattled Somerset County on Wednesday morning. This is among dozens of aftershocks to shake the area since April 5's 4.8 earthquake.

The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck around 7:01 a.m. about 1 km west-northwest of Gladstone. This past Saturday, the USGS also recorded a 2.9-magnitude earthquake in the same area.

Wednesday morning's quake is one of several to hit the Garden State this week. The USGS has recorded numerous small quakes in Somerset, Hunterdon and Morris counties. In the last week, all originated near Califon, Gladstone, and Chester.

The aftershocks come three weeks after a 4.8 magnitude quake rattled the tri-state area. The USGS said more than 42 million people might have felt the initial quake, centered about 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia.

A 4.0 magnitude earthquake, the second-largest aftershock since the 4.8 magnitude quake shook Somerset County, was also reported later that same day.

Earthquakes are less common on the eastern than western edges of the United States because the East Coast does not lie on a boundary of tectonic plates. But 13 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or stronger have been recorded since 1950 within 311 miles of April 5's temblor, the USGS said.

The strongest was a 5.8-magnitude quake in Mineral, Virginia, on Aug. 23, 2011, that jolted people from Georgia to Canada.

Did you feel Wednesday morning's aftershock? Report it to the USGS for tracking purposes.

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