Early on Monday morning, the San Francisco Bay Area experienced a noticeable earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale, which startled many residents. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), over 24,000 individuals reported feeling the tremor, which struck just east-southeast of Berkeley shortly before 3 a.m. PDT.
Residents took to social media to share their experiences, describing how their homes shook during the earthquake. While there were some reports of minor damage in Berkeley, such as broken windows and items falling from shelves, the overall impact appeared to be limited. Local businesses assessed the situation, and initial reports indicated that no significant structural damage occurred.
In the aftermath of the quake, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) announced via X that trains would be operating at reduced speeds to facilitate safety inspections on the tracks. Commuters were advised to anticipate delays of up to 20 minutes across the transit system.
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management noted an uptick in 911 calls from residents who felt the shaking, yet thankfully, there were no reports of injuries within the city. In a statement posted on X, the department confirmed that it had not received any significant reports of damage. San Francisco Mayor Dan Lurie reassured residents that first responders were assessing the impact and promised to provide updates throughout the day.
News anchor Dave Clark from KTVU-TV shared his personal experience, stating, “Things were shaking in our newsroom. It caught everyone off guard.” Reports indicated that the earthquake could be felt as far south as Salinas, approximately 100 miles (161 kilometers) away from Berkeley. Brayden Murdock, a representative from the National Weather Service in Monterey, commented, “As far as earthquakes go, this is kind of the one where people feel them, but there’s not a whole lot of impacts to them.”
As the community assesses the aftermath of this earthquake, updates and safety information will continue to be shared by local authorities to ensure public safety and awareness.
