It wasn’t an earthquake, but rather a sonic boom that caused the rattling residents in Southern New Jersey and Long Island reported feeling on Thursday afternoon.
New Jersey News 12 noted that the United States Geological Survey said that the tremors felt in those areas was from a sonic boom, not an earthquake as previously believed.
The sonic boom, which travels through the air with an airplane so it arrives at different ground locations at different times, occurred between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. The sound it makes is a loud explosive noise caused by the shock wave from the traveling faster than the speed of sound.
After the shaking, those who experienced it took to social media asking if others felt what they had and if anyone knew what it was.
Police Departments were flooded with calls and had to ask that people stop dialing 911 to report the incident because they were tying up emergency lines.
No damage or injuries were reported as a result of the boom.
7 earthquakes in a row in Jersey?? What is going on, they're getting stronger and stronger! The whole house is shaking
— Paris Monroe (@ParisMonroe) January 28, 2016
Tremors about every 5 minutes. USGS says no earthquake; FAA says no sonic boom. Would love an explanation/advice? House shaking.
— Deirdre Kane (@BacktoJersey) January 28, 2016
@ABC7NY felt 3 separate tremors in Bellmore Nassau county
— Steven Seidler (@srock68) January 28, 2016
Earthquake in south jersey????
— Laura Jo Bender (@LJVitaleBender) January 28, 2016
We are not reporting any type of seismic blasts anywhere in NJ. Looking to confirm reports of reported tremors.
— NJSP - State Police (@NJSP) January 28, 2016
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