Epicenter of latest California earthquake traced to ground under San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco’s airport is located just a few miles from the San Andreas Fault and was built to withstand significant shaking. Within the next 30 years there is probability is a 72% that an earthquake measuring magnitude 6.7 or greater will occur in the San Francisco region.
Reporter reflects on covering 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in California
FOX 2 San Francisco reporter Tom Vacar joined FOX Weather on Tuesday night to reflect on his memories of covering the powerful magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake that struck in 1989.
SAN FRANCISCO - A magnitude-3.7 earthquake was reported by the United States Geological Survey to have occurred beneath San Francisco International Airport Friday evening, leading the ground to rattle across most of the Bay Area.
According to seismologists, the shaking was felt around 6:30 p.m. local time and was centered more than 8 miles below the surface of San Mateo County.
Earthquakes that register less than a magnitude-4.0 are considered to be minor and usually result in little to no damage.
The United States Geological Survey reported the magnitude-3.9 earthquake was centered more than 8 miles under the ground in San Mateo County. The quake occurred around 6:38 p.m. local time.
(USGS)
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Due to the minor nature of the quake, alerts to cell phones notifying Californians did not populate, as typically happens before quakes with a magnitude of 4.5 or greater.
Local authorities did not immediately report any damage associated with the quake, but travelers did experience delays while safety inspections were conducted on infrastructure.
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District said trains were operating at reduced speeds while system inspections took place.
The San Francisco International Airport is located just about three miles away from the infamous San Andreas Fault, and engineers said cutting-edge seismic designs were used in the construction of structures, including the 220-foot-tall control tower.
According to the Maffei Structural Engineering group, the airport's control tower meets all FAA criteria for extreme earthquakes and, at the time of construction, was the tallest structure built with a unique design to withstand violent shaking.
The National Earthquake Information Center reports California experiences thousands of earthquakes every year, but less than a handful register a magnitude 5.5 or greater and cause substantial damage.
A plane takes off from San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, the United States, July 15, 2023. According to the latest monthly consumer price index CPI report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, airline fares have continued a significant decline. During June 2023, airfares were almost 19 percent lower than the same month a year earlier. Fares declined by more than 8 percent from May to June of this year.
(Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua via Getty Images / Getty Images)