San Francisco 4.3 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Bay Area: Sparking Hayward Fault Concerns?

A 4.3 magnitude earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area at 2:56 a.m. PDT, startling residents who were sleeping.

The epicenter was strategically located near the University of California, Berkeley campus, precisely around the corner of Dwight Way and Piedmont Avenue.

The relatively shallow depth of the earthquake, approximately 7.8 kilometers, contributed to the shaking being felt quite strongly at the surface.

Although the initial magnitude was reported higher, a final revision by the USGS put the quake’s magnitude at 4.3.

The shaking was felt widely, from Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco, to Albany, Alameda, San Leandro, Piedmont, Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and Richmond.

Reports indicated that shaking was felt as far north as Santa Rosa and Sacramento, and south as Santa Cruz and Salinas.

The immediate impact of the earthquake was mild, with no reports of significant injuries or major infrastructure damage.

However, some businesses reported broken windows and merchandise falling from shelves.

“Things were shaking in our newsroom,” posted Dave Clark, a news anchor for KTVU-TV. “It caught everyone off guard.”

Between 22,000 and 30,000 people reported feeling the earthquake to the USGS, indicating a wide range of impacts.