Japanese authorities say that a strong earthquake that struck the country's southwest Japan has left nine people with minor injuries

More than 30 aftershocks have happened since the rare 4.8 magnitude earthquake on Friday that was felt as far south as Washington, D.C., and up to Maine.

The surprise quake is the strongest to hit the region in nearly 140 years.

Earthquakes along the Atlantic Seaboard are "uncommon but not unheard of," according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the Northeast Friday morning, shaking buildings from New Jersey to New York City and Connecticut.

Experts warn that possible aftershocks following the tremors can continue for days.

A look at the numbers behind the magnitude of earthquakes that have rocked the world as a 4.8 magnitude earthquake recorded on the East Coast became the strongest earthquake in the area since 1884.

The 4.8 magnitude earthquake that surprised the Northeast was centered in New Jersey and shook from Washington, D.C. up to Maine. ABCs Victor Oquendo speaks to Dr. Angie Lux about the rare occurrence.

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Northeast Friday morning, shaking buildings in several states, including New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

Lucy Jones, seismologist and founder of Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society joins ABC News Live to discuss.

Tremors from the quake were felt from Washington, D.C. to New England

While it may be hard to predict when an earthquake will strike, emergency management experts say there are steps that anyone can take to stay safe.

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the Northeast Friday morning.

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake was felt across the Northeast on Friday morning.

Residents react to an earthquake that hit New Jersey on Friday. It could be felt in New York City and as far as Washington, D.C., and Maine.

The earthquake was centered near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, and could be felt as far south as Washington, D.C., and as far north as Maine.

UCLA professor of engineering John Wallace compares the readiness of West and East Coast cities.

Yonkers is about 50 miles from the epicenter of one of the largest earthquakes to happen in the Northeast.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in the immediate aftermath of the quake.

The effects were felt in New York City, Philadelphia and Boston.

At least 11 people were missing and some 705 people were stranded or trapped, authorities said.

Taiwanese officials are saying more than 700 people are still trapped.

Emergency crews are racing to rescue hundreds of people still trapped in damaged buildings as Taiwan recovers from its strongest earthquake in 25 years.

ABC News’ Marcus Moore reports on the search-and-rescue efforts after the country was rocked by the one of the strongest earthquakes in nearly 25 years.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred in Taiwan at 7:58 a.m. local time.

Taiwan's most powerful earthquake in 25 years killed at least nine people and injured over 1,000 on Wednesday morning.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake shook the entire island of Taiwan at 7:58 local time on Wednesday, leaving at least nine people dead and more than 900 injured, Taiwanese officials said.

At least nine people are dead, with hundreds reported injured.

Taiwan was hit by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake which was followed by a smaller 6.5 quake.

No serious damage has been reported for the 5.7 magnitude tremor in Hawaii while California's quake came in at 4.6 magnitude.

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Pahala on Hawaii's Big Island hours before a 4.7 quake hit Malibu, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Hawaii's Big Island on Friday.

ABC News' Terry Moran speaks with KITV reporter Jeremy Lee who lives in Hilo on the Big Island.

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake has shaken parts of Oklahoma late Friday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

A 5.3 magnitude quake was detected near Salcha.

ABC News’ Will Carr reflects on the Northridge Earthquake that devastated southern California in 1994 and what lessons it taught experts about earthquake planning.

A series of earthquakes rattled the Oklahoma City metro area Friday evening and Saturday morning, including two 4.4 magnitude earthquakes.

Residents of Queens were awakened by a rare earthquake in New York City on Tuesday morning.

The magnitude 1.7 quake gave a jolt to residents in Manhattan and Queens.

At least 55 people are dead after a massive earthquake struck the west coast Monday, according to The Associated Press.

The race for survivors is underway as the death toll reaches 48.

At least eight people have died after a powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 struck Japan on Monday, officials said.

The magnitude 7.5 quake hit on New Year's Day, with tens of thousands facing power outages in the cold.

An eyewitness captured scenes of panic in a train station in Kanazawa city after a massive earthquake hit central Japan.

Footage showed buildings shaking, a massive fire and crowds panicking after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Japan.

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded further earthquakes on Sunday with magnitudes of 6.6 and 6.9, but there were no tsunami alerts.

Several roads have cracked in Grindavik, Iceland, a fishing town evacuated on Friday, as thousands of earthquakes led to fears of a volcanic eruption.

Concerns grow as a string of earthquakes has the potential to cause a volcanic eruption.

A rare earthquake stronger than magnitude 5.0 on the Richter Scale struck a remote area of West Texas early Wednesday, officials said.

Magnitude 5.6 earthquake hits Nepal.