New Delhi: Tremors were felt inside the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck New York and New Jersey on Friday, news agency AP reported.
As per the report, the earthquake was centred about 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia, and it is likely to have been felt by more than 42 million people.
During a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York City, the earthquake disrupted the proceedings, causing a moment of alarm among attendees.
#WATCH | New York: Tremors felt inside the United Nations Security Council as an earthquake struck New York and New Jersey. https://t.co/Vco8wvcr81 pic.twitter.com/48uecsX0kN
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2024
Janti Soeripto, President and Chief Executive Officer of the “Save the Children” organisation, was providing a briefing on the dire situation in the conflict-ridden Gaza region when the tremors of an earthquake rattled the United Nations building. A video shared by the UN captured the sudden interruption.
As she took a pause, a fellow member could be heard saying, “You’re making the ground shake!”.
However, there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage resulting from the earthquake.
Residents along the eastern seaboard, from Philadelphia to New York and extending out to Long Island, took to social media to share their experiences of feeling the tremors.
“My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted on X.
Earlier in the day, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasised the inadequacy of peace measures in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This statement followed Israel’s pledge to the UN to permit a significant increase in aid to the region.
“It’s not enough to have scattered measures — we need a paradigm shift,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in New York posted, “A 4.8 magnitude earthquake with epicenter near Readington, Hunterdon, County in New Jersey was felt in the region. @IndiaInNewYork s in touch with members of the Indian diaspora. No Indian national or member of diaspora is reported hurt so far.”
