What you need to know about earthquakes
Every year, there are about 500,000 earthquakes – 100,000 of which can be felt on the Earth’s surface. But how do earthquakes work? We explain.
Just the FAQs
A 2.9 magnitude earthquake struck near Dublin, California on Tuesday afternoon, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The quake hit around 4:58 p.m. local time about three miles west of Dublin and about five miles south of San Ramon, according to the USGS.
USGS data showed shaking was felt as far west as San Francisco and as far south as San Jose. The earthquake struck at a depth of about 6.4 miles, according to the geological survey.
A second earthquake was also felt in the area Tuesday night, as a 2.8 magnitude quake was recorded near Orinda around 10:43 p.m. local time.
The second quake struck about two miles west of Orinda and about three miles east of Berkeley, according to the USGS, with shaking also felt as far west as San Francisco and as far south as San Jose.
No injuries or damage were reported for either earthquake.
At what magnitude does damage begin to occur in earthquakes?
According to the USGS, there is not one magnitude above which damage will occur. It depends on other variables, such as the distance from the earthquake, what type of soil you are on, building construction, among others. However, the USGS says damage does not usually occur until the earthquake magnitude reaches somewhere above 4 or 5.
The earthquakes near the Bay Area in California follow a deadly earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand in Southeast Asia last week.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
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