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A 1.3 magnitude earthquake struck just south of Jersey City this morning.

(US Geological Survey)

A 1.3 magnitude earthquake struck just south of Jersey City early this morning and an official at the National Geological Survey said she would not be surprised if an earthquake of such low magnitude went completely unnoticed by residents.

The earthquake described as occurring 1.9 miles west southwest of Jersey City was at 5:08 a.m. and at a depth of about seven miles, said US Geological Survey Geophysicist Susan Hoover this evening.

Hoover said it would not be uncommon for a 1.3 magnitude earthquake to go unnoticed and that no damage to structures would be expected. She said the USGS received no reports from residents of having felt the quake.

Just before 2 p.m. on Aug. 23, 2011, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake centered in Virginia rattled parts of New Jersey and New York, causing buildings to sway in cities and towns across the region.