The New York Fire Deparment (FDNY) is investigating after reports of a series of small explosions in the city.
A 1.7 magnitude earthquake hit New York City early on Tuesday and officials have said it may have caused explosions on an island between Manhattan and Queens.
Firefighters were called to Roosevelt Island shortly before 6am on Tuesday after residents reported a building shaking and the sound of several booming explosions.
There are no reported injuries.
Local news channels said experts were looking at whether the noise had been caused by an earthquake or some sort of power surge.
The NYC Emergency Department wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "At 0545 hours, a 1.7 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Astoria Queens area.
"Its location was 0.5 miles ENE of Astoria at a depth of 5km."
What happened on Roosevelt Island this morning - possible earthquake? Waiting for answers. https://t.co/0JpVBdjqXY
— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) January 2, 2024
Fire crews are also reported to be investigating a series of fires in "multiple maintenance holes".
People living on the island said walls in their homes shook from the impact while people several miles away reported being woken up by the "boom" of the explosions.
One resident said they thought it was an "earthquake" that had woken them up but the FDNY said it had not identified the cause.
Was that an earthquake that just happened in NYC? Woke me up woah. #NYC #NewYorkCity
— Lugo.eth (@WWMLD) January 2, 2024
It comes after a series of powerful earthquakes hit western Japan leaving at least 55 people dead and damaging thousands of buildings, vehicles and boats.
Officials warned more quakes could lie ahead as aftershocks continued to shake Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas a day after a magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit the area.
