A minor earthquake struck northern Wayne County late Wednesday night, startling residents across several communities in the Finger Lakes region.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 2.2 magnitude quake hit at 7:19 p.m. on October 22. The epicenter was located about 12 kilometers north of Pultneyville, near the Lake Ontario shoreline, at a depth of 7.9 kilometers.
While the quake was relatively small, it was strong enough for people in nearby towns to feel — and hear — the jolt.
“I was nearly shaken out of bed,” one resident commented. Others in Marion, Williamson, Ontario, Walworth, and Palmyra said they either heard a loud rumble or felt a brief vibration. Some mistook it for thunder or a crash, while others reported a distinct shaking sensation.
“I heard it here on a hill in Walworth. Thought it was yet another crash on 350,” one commenter wrote.
The quake didn’t cause any reported damage or injuries but sparked dozens of posts and comments on local social media pages as residents tried to figure out what they had just experienced.
Though rare, earthquakes do occur in New York State. Seismologists have long pointed to fault lines beneath the region, warning that small quakes like this may become more frequent.
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