Study says 2024 Tewksbury earthquake likely came from Mountainville Fault, not Ramapo Fault
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck near Tewksbury in April 2024 and was felt across a wide area, from New Jersey and New York to Maine and Virginia.
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A new study suggests the 2024 earthquake that rattled much of the East Coast may have originated from a newly identified fault zone in New Jersey.
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck near Tewksbury in April 2024 and was felt across a wide area, from New Jersey and New York to Maine and Virginia.
For more than two years, the quake was widely believed to be associated with the Ramapo Fault Zone.
But a new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth points to the newly discovered Mountainville Fault Zone as the likely source.
Researchers based their findings on the region's topography and on the locations of numerous aftershocks that continued for days following the earthquake.
While the quake was widely felt, it did not cause major damage.
Some building damage and water main breaks were reported in Essex and Morris counties.
Researchers say the Mountainville Fault Zone is an important discovery and one that should continue to be monitored as scientists work to better understand earthquake risks in the region.
