Series of small earthquakes shake Bay Area near Hayward fault
- Share via
A magnitude 3.7 earthquake shook the Bay Area city of Hayward just before 2 p.m. Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The temblor followed three earlier small earthquakes — a magnitude 2.7 that struck near the Hayward fault at 5:03 a.m., followed by a magnitude 3.3 at 11:52 a.m., then a 3.2 at 11:54 a.m. The epicenter for each was about one mile east of the East Bay city, the agency said.
The first quake occurred at a depth of about 3.3 miles; the second, 3.5 miles; the third, 3.8 miles; and the fourth, 4.4 miles.
About 4,000 people reported feeling the largest of the four quakes, according to the USGS.
Light shaking was felt around Hayward. Residents in Vallejo to the north and Sunnyvale and San Jose to the south reported weak shaking.
Previous reports from the USGS have noted the danger posed by the Hayward fault. Though less of a household name than the San Andreas fault, the Hayward fault poses a significant risk, the agency said in a 2018 report.
The Hayward fault is particularly dangerous because it runs through some of the most heavily populated parts of the Bay Area, spanning the length of the East Bay from the San Pablo Bay through Berkeley, Oakland, Hayward, Fremont and into Milpitas.
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur each year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS, contributed to this article. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.
Are you ready for when the Big One hits? Get ready for the next big earthquake by signing up for our Unshaken newsletter, which breaks down emergency preparedness into bite-sized steps over six weeks. Learn more about earthquake kits, which apps you need, Lucy Jones’ most important advice and more at latimes.com/Unshaken.
Times staff writer Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
