Magnitude 4.4 Earthquake Shakes San Francisco Bay Area Residents in Early Morning Hours
Northern Californians woke in the middle of the night to 4.4 magnitude earthquake that shook the San Francisco Bay Area.
The earthquake struck at 2:39 a.m. local time and was centered two miles outside Berkeley, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services announced via tweet that there were no immediate reports of damages.
The USGS said that a quake of this intensity typically would be felt by many indoors, likening the sensation to a “heavy truck striking a building.” It also has the potential to damage dishes, windows and doors.
Transit agencies reported there may be delays in the morning commute while they check for any damage.
“Expect major delays with our first trains this morning,” announced the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit. “Trains will be performing track inspections due to earlier seismic activity.”
Expect major delays with our first trains this morning. Trains will be performing track inspections due to earlier seismic activity.
— SFBARTalert (@SFBARTalert) January 4, 2018
No reports of damages from the region at this time. #earthquake #whatsshakincalifornia https://t.co/cSPgzjoMb5
— Cal OES (@Cal_OES) January 4, 2018
#Earthquake took out some items at San Leandro Safeway pic.twitter.com/GiXiaputFi
— John De Motto (@johnDemotto) January 4, 2018
Felt a big jolt and rolling. Picture frames, etc, fell down. We are standing outside because the fire alarm went off. SFPD & SFFD is here now. #earthquake pic.twitter.com/8dMu58spUt
— Riya (@loislane28) January 4, 2018
Well, that was enough to keep me awake for a while. #Earthquake. pic.twitter.com/on3nAmg7uD
— Tessa Marks (@tkmtwit) January 4, 2018
Because who in the bay isn’t laying in bed in their post-panic-attack looking at #earthquake tweets.
— shimen_k (@shimen_k) January 4, 2018
Twitter forreal the most reliable news source... I had to check here first to make sure I wasn't crazy. #earthquake
— ty$ (@Tyriveraa) January 4, 2018
Nothing brings the Bay Area together more than tweeting about an #earthquake in the middle of the night. ????
— Nicklaus Morton (@NicklausMorton) January 4, 2018
Enough people felt the tremor to make #earthquake the top trending topic worldwide.
“Twitter forreal the most reliable news source… I had to check here first to make sure I wasn’t crazy,” one user wrote.
Another added, “Nothing brings the Bay Area together more than tweeting about an #earthquake in the middle of the night.”