A 3.7 magnitude earthquake centered close to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) gave the Bay Area a sharp jolt at approximately 6:38 p.m. Friday evening, leaving many residents recalling seismic events of the past.
Originally assessed at a 4.0 magnitude by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the strength of the earthquake was later revised to 3.7. Its epicenter was pinpointed approximately 1.3 miles north-northeast of Millbrae, descending to a depth of around 8 miles.
Following the tremor, airport officials moved promptly to ensure the safety of the runways at SFO, confirming later that no issues had arisen due to the quake. The tremor's reach extended across the region, with residents from as far north as Santa Rosa and as far south as Santa Cruz reporting its effects. Echoes of the quake were also felt eastwards to Tracy.
Social media platforms saw a flurry of activity, with users from Redwood City, San Mateo, Saratoga, and as far as Hayward, Richmond, and Walnut Creek sharing their experiences of the quake. In response, BART reduced its speeds to carry out safety inspections on its tracks, leading to anticipated delays of up to 20 minutes across the system.
Though no significant damage was reported, many in the Bay Area felt the rumble distinctly. In the heart of San Francisco's Nob Hill, residents noted their dishes trembling from the seismic activity. Interestingly, the quake did not meet the threshold for cellphone alerts set for events of a 4.5 magnitude or higher, according to USGS.
While some residents barely registered the event, for others, it was a stark reminder of the region's seismic history. Marti Diehl, who was in San Francisco's Castro District at the time, recalled her experience, stating, "I was sitting on the bar stool and I was just starting to stand up and I went (shakes)... It wasn't the drinks." Diehl, who has spent 75 years in San Francisco, vividly remembers the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. "We'd rather have the teeny ones than have the big guy, you know? It's what we live with," she reflected.
The evening's seismic activity didn't end with the initial tremor. An aftershock of magnitude 2.2 was recorded at 8:24 p.m. near Millbrae, while earthquakes measuring 2.9 and 2.1 in magnitude occurred east-southeast of Alum Rock shortly after.
This recent seismic activity adds to a series of tremors felt in Northern California in recent weeks. An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 near Isleton in Sacramento County had residents on alert, followed by another 2.9 magnitude quake close to Twitchell Island in the Delta. However, experts continue to maintain that there's no known link between weather patterns and earthquake occurrences.
