Earthquake felt across our region

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – While many Vermonters are preparing to look up to the skies for Monday’s eclipse, it was the earth that was moving Friday morning after a strong earthquake shook our region.

The USGS reported the quake at 10:23 a.m. with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, centered near Lebanon, New Jersey. Initial figures indicated that the quake might have been felt by more than 42 million people across the Northeast.

Residents from Brattleboro to St. Albans reported feeling the temblor. Vermont state geologist Ben DeJong says feeling quakes in this part of the country isn’t that common.

“We are on some really hard rock here in Vermont that are connected all up and down Appalachia and so that’s probably why we can feel these tremors all they way up here 300 miles away.

There were no immediate reports of any damage.