Magnitude 3.1 Earthquake Rattles Redwood City, Menlo Park & Atherton
REDWOOD CITY (CBS SF) -- A magnitude 3.1 earthquake struck near Redwood City in San Mateo County Friday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's automated seismograph alert network.
The USGS reports the quake, later downgraded to 2.9, struck at 3:44 a.m. and was centered about a mile east-southeast of Emerald Lake Hills, 2 miles southwest of Redwood City and 3 miles west of Atherton at a depth of 2.8 miles.
READ MORE: Rare 3.1 Peninsula Quake Strikes On Fault Line That's Been Quiet For Decades
According to USGS website, over 700 people, mostly from Menlo Park, San Carlos and Redwood City, reported feeling the earthquake. The quake was also felt in Fremont and as far away as Concord and Daly City.
Branden Lee of Redwood City said he felt the quake and believes it caused his patio furniture to topple over.
Emerald Hills resident Geoff Shenk lives a few doors down from the epicenter and said the quake sounded like a M-80 firecracker went off inside his house.
"It was just 'boom!'" Shenk said. "Like a super loud, deep explosion. It shook us. It woke us up instantly."
Several people on Twitter also reported feeling the quake.
@KCBSNews earthquake just now here near woodside just felt it! I was awake! Wow strong shake!
— Jose Tercero Midence (@JTMSPORT10) February 6, 2015
@KCBSNews I felt it in #San Carlos. A short sharp jolt. House swayed. No after shocks.
— Lisa Trei (@lisatrei) February 6, 2015
A shallow quake--in the 0 to 40 mile depth range--can feel much stronger than their actual reported magnitude. Quakes just below the earth's surface, in the 0 to 10 miles range, can cause even more damage at lower magnitudes.
Police departments had no immediate report of damage or injuries.
About three hours later, a magnitude 2.5 earthquake rattled the same area.
COMPLETE QUAKE COVERAGE: CBS Earthquake Resource Center
This article will be updated as information warrants, and follow KPIX 5 on Twitter at @CBSSF or KCBS Radio on Twitter at @KCBSNews for updates on breaking news anytime.
DID YOU FEEL IT?: USGS Shake Map For Northern California
LIVE QUAKE MAP: Track Real-Time Hot Spots
BAY AREA FAULTS: Interactive Map Of Local Faults
Strong earthquakes with an epicenter off the coast can trigger tsunamis, depending on the size and type of the fault movement. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center tracks earthquake data for the West Coast.
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