Sunday's 4.2 magnitude earthquake was the strongest in two years to hit the Bay Area

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake near the Santa Cruz-Monterey border woke residents across the Bay Area early Sunday morning.

The earthquake struck at 2:47 a.m. along the San Andreas Fault at a depth of 4.2 miles in a rural area along Highway 129, about six miles east of Watsonville and 7 miles south of Gilroy.

It was the biggest earthquake to hit the greater Bay Area in nearly two years, since a magnitude 5.1 quake struck on Oct. 25, 2022, with the epicenter at Joseph D. Grant County Park within the hills east of San Jose.

Authorities said there have been no reports of harm from Sunday morning's quake. However, in response to the US Geological Survey website, the event was widespread throughout the Bay Area, San Jose, the East Bay, San Francisco and even Santa Rosa.

“It definitely woke me up,” said Ryan Stirm, owner of Stirm Winery in Aromas, near the epicenter. “The first few seconds were the strongest, and then there was slight shaking. We had no damage. But it was loud. I don't wake up that quickly. It was like a slow grind.”

Stirm said the quake reminded him of the Loma Prieta earthquake. This magnitude 6.9 earthquake on October 17, 1989 killed 63 people and caused $6 billion in damage. It destroyed San Francisco's Marina District, collapsed the Cypress Freeway in Oakland, and devastated downtown Santa Cruz and Watsonville. It was the biggest quake within the Bay Area because the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.

Its upcoming thirty fifth anniversary – and Sunday's modest quake – should function a reminder that California is earthquake country, authorities said Sunday.

“It's always important to be prepared for earthquakes,” said Andy Rosas, a spokesman for the Monterey County Sheriff's Department.

He beneficial residents update their earthquake equipment and create a communication plan for his or her families.

“During the Loma Prieta quake, no one was prepared,” Rosas said. “You just never know when they’re going to happen. The better prepared you are, the better it will go.”

Originally published: September 29, 2024 at 4:10 p.m