Earthquake Rocks Santa Cruz County and Bay Area

A 4.6 magnitude earthquake rattled communities throughout Santa Cruz County, the Bay Area, and Monterey Bay regions early Thursday morning. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake occurred at 1:41 a.m. Pacific Time.

Epicenter and Felt Reports

The epicenter of the earthquake was located just east of Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County, according to the USGS. Reports indicate the quake was felt in San Jose, Santa Cruz, and the East Bay areas.

The USGS also received reports from residents as far away as Sacramento, Santa Rosa, the Central Valley, and King City in Monterey County who felt the shaking.

Proximity to the San Andreas Fault

A USGS map shows the earthquake occurred near the San Andreas Fault, a major geological feature in the region. This fault line is known for significant seismic activity.

Largest Quake in Santa Cruz County in Decades

The USGS database indicates this was the largest earthquake centered in Santa Cruz County since April 18, 1990. That event involved a pair of quakes measuring 5.1 and 5.4 magnitude, which shook the county’s southern tip near Watsonville.

Initial Damage Assessments

Public safety officers were observed in Boulder Creek Thursday morning assessing potential damage. Initial observations by this news organization showed no goods were knocked off shelves in a local hardware store and supermarket.

Recollections of Past Earthquakes

The earthquake brought back memories of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, a magnitude 6.9 event that caused widespread damage and resulted in approximately 60 fatalities across the Bay Area. The Loma Prieta quake notably caused the collapse of a section of Interstate 880 in Oakland and damage in downtown Santa Cruz.

Residents in the Santa Cruz Mountains shared their experiences on social media, with one resident, Amber Bonner, stating, “Wow. I’ve never run to my children faster.”