What you need to know about earthquakes
Approximately 500,000 earthquakes occur each year, 100,000 of which can be felt at the Earth’s surface. But how do earthquakes occur? Let me explain.
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A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck California’s Bay Area early Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake was centered in the town of Boulder Creek in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains and struck at 1:41 a.m. local time at a depth of 10.9 kilometers (6.8 miles). Residents in the area reported mild to moderate shaking, with residents as far north as Berkeley and San Francisco and as far south as Soledad reporting feeling the shaking as well, according to the USGS.
It was initially reported as a magnitude 5.1 earthquake, but was later revised down to magnitude 4.6. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, various faults run through the Santa Cruz area, and it was not immediately clear which fault caused the quake.
No injuries or deaths were reported from the quake, but the USGS said there was a 56% chance of a magnitude 3.0 or greater aftershock within the next seven days, and a 12% chance of a magnitude 4.0 or greater.
Gabe Hauari is USA TODAY’s national trends news reporter. You can follow him at X @gabehauari Or email Gdhauari@gannett.com.
