The magnitude-1.6 temblor caused no known damage
BUTLER -- A weak earthquake struck here and in neighboring Bloomingdale, causing no known damage, according to police and the United States Geological Survey.
Officers began to investigate after reports of a loud noise came in around 8 p.m., Butler police said via Facebook. A 1.6-magnitude earthquake struck around 8:15 p.m. with an epicenter about a half-mile from Butler and a mile from Bloomingdale, Jessica Turner, a USGS geophysicist based in Golden, Co., said Thursday night.
Earthquakes usually have to be stronger than Thursday's to be felt by the public, Turner added, with most quakes weaker than magnitude 2.0 usually passing unnoticed.
Butler police were not immediately available for comment Thursday night. Sgt. Dan Fletcher of Bloomingdale police said they had received a handful of calls reporting a booming sound but found nothing.
A slightly more powerful temblor was felt in the state last month. Centered in Ringwood, that quake was slightly more than magnitude 2.0.
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.