Residents of Queens in New York City were jolted awake early Tuesday morning by a rare earthquake that registered as a magnitude 1.7 on the Richter scale. The tremor, centered in the Astoria neighborhood, occurred at approximately 5:45 a.m. at a depth of 5 km, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries or significant damage caused by the earthquake. However, Roosevelt Island, located in the East River between Manhattan and Queens, experienced some minor issues. Several buildings in close proximity to the Roosevelt Island Bridge and Tram faced power outages, according to residents on the island who spoke with New York ABC station WABC.

Despite these localized disruptions, city officials in New York reported that by 11:30 a.m., everything was functioning normally. However, some residents recounted their experience of the earthquake, with elevators being temporarily out of service and confusion prevailing among those who were uncertain about what was happening.

"At DOB, FDNY, NYPD, 311, MTA, Con Ed, and National Grid, there have been no reports of injuries, transit or traffic impacts, utility services disruptions, or structural stability issues at this time," stated NYC Emergency Management.

Earthquakes are relatively uncommon in New York City, although last May, a 2.2 magnitude quake hit Westchester County, just north of the city. The recent seismic activity in Queens is a reminder that such natural phenomena can occur unexpectedly even in urban areas.

In addition to the Queens earthquake, another minor tremor was recorded on the East Coast in Rockville, Maryland. Around 1 a.m., a quake with a magnitude of 2.3 struck the area, located northwest of Washington, D.C., at a depth of approximately 15.3 km. Fortunately, there were no injuries or reported damages resulting from this incident.

"Many of us didn't know that earthquakes could happen in Maryland," said Potomac resident Nathan Sharpe, expressing surprise at the seismic event.

While these recent earthquakes were relatively minor, they serve as a reminder for residents in both Queens and Rockville that the unexpected can occur. It is advisable to stay informed and prepared for any potential future seismic activity.

As New York City and Maryland return to their normal daily routines, residents can take solace in the fact that no significant harm was caused by these natural phenomena, and authorities will continue to monitor the situation for any further developments.