Latest news with #SanAndreasFault
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS California rocked by earthquake felt for 100 miles
California was hit by a 3.3 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, along a major fault line overdue for a major one. The US Geological Survey detected the tremor at 9:31am PT outside of Borrego Springs, about 87 miles north of San Diego. California experiences around 27 to 35 earthquakes per day, but most are very small and go unnoticed. However, Wednesday's quake was felt by dozens of people who reported weak to light shaking. The seismic activity comes as scientists warned the Bay Area will soon suffer a devastating earthquake in the next few decades. Sarah Minson from the US Geological Survey (USGS) said this month that the chances of the long-feared 'Big One' striking San Francisco by 2055 have risen to a staggering 72 percent. That is because the region sits on top of the San Andreas Fault, an 800-mile-long fault which runs right through the Bay Area, which is overdue for 'The Big One' - a magnitude 7.8 earthquake or higher. While Minson believes there may be some time left for Californians, USGS disagrees and warns that the first major earthquake will come in just seven years. This is a developing story... More updates to come
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Chances 'The Big One' devastates California by 2032 skyrocket as new earthquake swarm hits area
California 's Bay Area is now almost certain to suffer a devastating earthquake within the next few decades, with some experts warning it could come as soon as 2032. Sarah Minson from the US Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that the chances of the long-feared 'Big One' striking San Francisco by 2055 have risen to a staggering 72 percent. In fact, Minson said that 'one or more magnitude 6.7 or larger' quakes are more than likely to strike Northern California within 30 years. Scientists have warned that the San Andreas Fault, an 800-mile-long fault which runs right through the Bay Area, is overdue for 'The Big One' - a magnitude 7.8 earthquake or higher. While Minson believes there may be some time left for Californians, USGS disagrees and warns that the first major earthquake will come in just seven years. 'The threat of earthquakes extends across the entire San Francisco Bay region, and a major quake is likely before 2032,' the agency wrote in a report. The last time a quake stronger than 6.7 in magnitude struck the Bay Area was the Loma Prieta earthquake that killed 63 people and injured nearly 4,000 in 1989. The new fears that 'The Big One' is on the way come as a fresh earthquake swarm rattled California's coast Monday morning, right near the northern tip of the San Andreas Fault. USGS revealed early Monday morning that seven earthquakes struck the Pacific just off the coast of Northern California between 1:54am and 7:01am ET. Five of those quakes took place just minutes apart between 4:17am and 4:38am, with one of them registering at magnitude 4.6. The swarm took place roughly 50 miles southwest of Eureka, which sits near the northern boundary of the infamous fault line. No injuries or damage has been reported. Based on historical trends, it's estimated the San Andreas causes a major quake every 150 years or so. The last one was 167 years ago. The last 'Big One' in California was a magnitude 7.9 quake that decimated San Francisco in 1906, killing 3,000 people and leveling 80 percent of the city's buildings. Minson explained that such a massive earthquake is the rarest of the rare, making the Loma Prieta earthquake look common in comparison. 'For every magnitude 8, like the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, there are 10 Loma Prieta-sized earthquakes, and 100 Napa-sized earthquakes, and 1,000 magnitude 5 earthquakes,' the geophysicist told The Mercury News. Experts predict the next 'Big One' would cause roughly 1,800 deaths, 50,000 injuries and $200 billion in damages, according to the Great California Shakeout. Despite the growing likelihood that at least one major earthquake is just years away, Minson warned that Californians need to focus more on the threat coming from smaller quakes striking the state each year. 'Even though each of those smaller earthquakes impacts a smaller area and they are less likely to cause damage, they happen so much more frequently that overall the risk from them is higher,' Minson said. The USGS scientist compared major earthquakes to shark attacks, something so rare but so terrifying that many people overlook the more immediate danger. 'Sharks kill on average about five people a year and cows kill on average about 22 people a year,' she continued. To prepare for the inevitable 'Big One,' Minson said it's important to have a backup plan of how to get in contact with family in case normal communication and transportation goes down during the earthquake. 'You want water, food, those sorts of things. Think of your pets. You can go to for more information,' she added. Although the San Andreas is drawing most of the attention when it comes to predicting California's next big earthquake, Minson warned that a lesser known fault line could be the real trigger for disaster. 'The Hayward Fault seems to have the highest rate of earthquakes,' the USGS expert explained. The Hayward Fault runs along the foot of the East Bay hills. The last major earthquake hit on October 21, 1868, measuring a 6.8 magnitude. Historical records show that five people were killed and 30 were injured. Scientists have been monitoring the fault, finding it produces major quakes ever 140 years. Researchers at the University of California, Berkley said: 'Since it has been more than 144 years since the last major earthquake, the clock is ticking.' 'It is very likely that the Hayward fault will rupture and produce a significant earthquake within the next 30 years.'
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS California rocked by three violent earthquakes in a matter of minutes amid fears of the Big One
California has experienced multiple earthquakes in the last two minutes in an area being closely monitored for a major quake. The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected three tremors ranging from a 2.5 to 3.8 magnitude on Monday, staring just after 11am local (3pm ET). The seismic activity hit 21 miles north of Bakersfield, home to more than 400,000 people, and 80 miles from Los Angeles. The epicenter, in Grapevine, is a known location where the San Andreas fault passes under Interstate 5, specifically at Tejon Pass. This makes the Grapevine section of I-5 particularly vulnerable to damage from earthquakes. This is a developing story... More updates to come.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
California fault line hit by earthquakes, sparking concerns over 'The Big One'
California experienced three earthquakes in an area being closely monitored for a major quake on Thursday and Friday. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) detected the seismic activity along the San Andreas Fault, which spans 800 miles from Cape Mendocino in the north to the Salton Sea in the south. Scientists warn this fault is overdue for a 'Big One' - a magnitude 7.8 earthquake or higher. The recent tremors ranged from a 2.5 to 2.9 magnitude, which experts say may cause mild injuries and damages. However, no injuries or damages have been reported as of yet. Experts are 'fairly confident that there could be a pretty large earthquake at some point in the next 30 years', Angie Lux, project scientist for Earthquake Early Warning at the Berkeley Seismology Lab, previously told Experts predict the 'Big One' would cause roughly 1,800 deaths, 50,000 injuries and $200billion in damages, according to the Great California Shakeout. Based on historical trends, it's estimated the San Andreas causes a major quake every 150 or so years, and the last one was 167 years ago. USGS detected the first quake, a 2.9 magnitude, on Thursday, northeast of San Francisco. This tremor was located on Calaveras Fault, a major branch of the San Andreas Fault system. The following earthquakes hit Friday morning, one along another branch of the major fault and another directly on it. The last major earthquakes on the San Andreas fault were in 1857 and 1906. The Fort Tejon earthquake of 1857 was a 7.9 magnitude, which caused ground fissures in the Los Angeles, Santa Ana and Santa Clara Rivers. Dr Sue Hough, a scientist in the USGS' Earthquake Hazards Program, told KTLA5 that there are conflicting studies about what signs precede a major earthquake. Some research suggested more activity happens before it hits, while others have found there is no warning, she added. Scientists are monitoring another fault line in California, the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which they believe could also produce a powerful earthquake soon. New research found that a 8.0 magnitude or higher quake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, combined with rising sea levels, would cause coastal land to sink up to 6.5ft within 30 minutes of a major tremor. The team generated tens of thousands of earthquake models to estimate the potential range of earthquake-driven subsidence — sinking land — that can be expected from the next large Cascadia earthquake. They determined that the most severe effects would hit southern Washington, northern Oregon and northern California, densely populated areas in the region. This event would result in significant expansion of the coastal floodplain — an area with a one percent chance of flooding each year — increasing it from 35 square miles to 116. If such a quake struck today, the researchers estimate that an additional 14,350 residents, 22,500 structures and 777 miles of roadway would fall within the post-earthquake floodplain, more than doubling flood exposure. The Cascadia Subduction Zone has historically produced 8.0 or larger magnitude earthquakes every 400 to 600 years, with the last striking in 1700. This might suggest the 'sleeping giant' is poised for another big one soon.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS California rocked by multiple earthquakes along fault line poised for 'The Big One'
California has experienced three earthquakes in the last 24 hours, sparking fears that a major quake could soon strike. The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the seismic activity along the San Andreas Fault, which spans 800 miles from Cape Mendocino in the north to the Salton Sea in the south. Scientists have warned that this fault is overdue for 'The Big One,' which would be a magnitude 7.8 or higher. While Friday's earthquakes ranged from a 2.5 to 2.9 magnitude, scientists determined that a 2.5 magnitude or higher can be felt and may cause injuries and damages. No injuries or damages have been reported as of yet. Experts are 'fairly confident that there could be a pretty large earthquake at some point in the next 30 years,' Angie Lux, project scientist for Earthquake Early Warning at the Berkeley Seismology Lab, previously told The 'Big One' would cause roughly 1,800 deaths, 50,000 injuries and $200 billion in damages, according to the Great California Shakeout. This is a developing story... More updates to come. USGS detected the first quake, a 2.9 magnitude, Thursday afternoon, northeast of San Francisco. This tremor was located on Calaveras Fault, a major branch of the San Andreas Fault system. The following earthquakes hit Friday morning, one along another branch of the major fault and another directly on it.
