New York and beyond rattled by rare East Coast earthquake

New York and cities on the US East Coast are assessing the impact of a rare earthquake that swayed landmarks and cracked roads.

The magnitude-4.8 quake struck at 10:23 local time (15:23 BST) near Lebanon, New Jersey, and could be felt from Pennsylvania to Connecticut.

Residents spoke of being rocked by a violent rumbling that threw objects around their homes and damaged walls.

Officials are now conducting safety assessments of infrastructure.

At least six aftershocks were reported by residents and the United States Geological Survey, including one with a 4.0 magnitude felt around 18:00 local time.

In New York, the Statue of Liberty was seen swaying during the initial earthquake, while workers and residents across the city's five boroughs reported violent rumbling.

Jane Coxwell told the BBC she felt a "rattling" like a train ing while she was in a building in lower Manhattan. "Living in New York I have become accustomed to rattling from the subway. That's what I thought it was," she said.

"Then I realised I was on the ninth floor. It was a bit unsteady for sure. It felt like a ing train."

Brooklyn and the Bronx residents reported rattling cupboards, doors and fixtures.

Charita Walcott, a 38-year-old from the Bronx, said the quake felt "like a violent rumble that lasted about 30 seconds or so".

"It was kind of like being in a drum circle, that vibration," she said.

Another New York resident told the BBC's US partner CBS News how their lazy morning suddenly turned. "I was laying in my bed, and my whole apartment building started shaking. I started freaking out," they said.

At the UN Security Council headquarters, a meeting on Gaza was temporarily paused due to the tremor. "Is that an earthquake":[]}