SCARBOROUGH, Maine — A 3.8-magnitude earthquake centered near the Maine coast rattled houses in northern New England on Monday. The quake, which occurred at approximately 10:22 a.m., was located about six miles (10 kilometers) southeast of York Harbor and struck at a depth of about eight miles (13 kilometers), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Residents across all states in New England reported feeling the tremors, with some individuals as far away as Pennsylvania experiencing the effects. The earthquake interrupted an otherwise calm winter morning, leading many residents to initially believe they felt a passing truck or a nearby accident, rather than an earthquake.

The quake triggered an immediate response from local officials across Maine and New Hampshire, who mobilized to assess potential damage. Surprisingly, reports indicated no significant injuries or destruction. Vanessa Corson, a spokesperson for the Maine Emergency Management Agency, stated that “the earthquake did not appear to cause any major damage.” She urged the public to contact emergency services only in critical situations, further reiterating that local emergency management agencies had not reported any significant incidents.

Residents reacted with confusion on social media, as they sought to understand the unusual vibrations. Freelance copywriter Justine Wenger, who felt the earthquake from her home in Scarborough, noted, “I wasn’t terrified, but this felt different than a normal rumbling. There was an instinct to get out of the house.”

Both the New Hampshire Department of Safety and local agencies confirmed that they received no distress calls related to injuries or damage in the wake of the earthquake. Corson added: “We have not received word of any issues. Everything seems to be in order.”

Although earthquakes of this magnitude are relatively less common in the central and eastern United States than on the West Coast, they can be felt over large distances. The USGS noted that New England typically experiences a couple of small seismic events each year. Historical data also indicates that larger earthquakes have occasionally impacted the region, with notable examples dating back to colonial times.

In related geological commentary, Maureen Long, from Yale University’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, remarked that earthquakes nearing a magnitude of 4.0 in the Northeast are “not particularly common, but it’s not all that rare, either.”

Residents in major cities, including Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, also reported experiencing the tremors. In light of the quake, schools in the districts were checked for any damage, with Kennebunk school superintendent Terri Cooper reassuring parents that “all district buildings and systems are in working order and no damage has been discovered.”

This unexpected seismic event serves as a reminder of the geological activity that can occur in regions not typically associated with significant earthquakes. For more information and resident reports, visit the VOA News.