Mild quake felt near New York state capital Albany

ALBANY, New York (Reuters) -- A mild earthquake shook New York state's capital of Albany on Monday, alarming residents in several towns, but there were no reports of damage or injuries, officials said.

New York state generally is not considered a place for earthquakes, but two quakes also were felt in April about 90 miles northwest of Albany. A study published this year by University of Buffalo geologists said the state is crisscrossed by hundreds of faults that have the potential to become active.

State officials said Monday's quake was measured at a preliminary magnitude of 2.3 at 7:16 a.m. EST in the small communities of Rotterdam and Berne north and northwest of Albany.

"People called and said it sounded like a problem with their heater or a crash outside," said Bob Fakundiny, state geologist with the New York Geological Survey. "It was felt enough that they noticed but it caused no damage."

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