Back-to-back earthquakes shake Northern California, seismologists say. 'Pretty strong'

Daniella Segura, The Charlotte Observer on Feb 13, 2025

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Back-to-back earthquakes shook the Northern California area after an early morning tremor Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

A 3.4-magnitude earthquake, nearly 4 miles deep, hit a little more than a mile east from Hayward at 11:52 a.m., according to the USGS.

Then, in the same area, a 3.2-magnitude jolt with about the same depth followed at 11:54 a.m., the agency reported.

More than 1,300 people from as far away as Berkeley and Santa Clara reported feeling the initial tremor to the agency, while more than 200 people reported feeling the subsequent shake.

“Oh, it WAS an earthquake in the East Bay,” one user on X, formerly known as Twitter, wrote. “Hayward fault is practically in my backyard so no wonder it felt pretty strong.”

The back-to-back quakes followed a 2.7-magnitude earthquake, which was about 3 miles deep, that hit the same area at 7:03 a.m.

Days earlier, a series of earthquakes also shook the Southern California area with three hitting the same region in the span of about 12 hours on Feb. 10, McClatchy News previously reported.

What to know about earthquakes

Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale.

Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Quakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.

Earthquakes’ sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but they’re most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

If an earthquake strikes, it’s best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:

—If you’re in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.

—If you’re in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.

—If you’re outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don’t go inside.

—If you’re inside: Stay and don’t run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.

The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.

“Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy,” officials say. “If you’re using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops.”

Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.

Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.

“There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines,” officials say. “Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock.”

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