Earthquake Near San Martin Rattles South Bay

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A 3.1-magnitude earthquake Monday rattled parts of the South Bay, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The epicenter of the quake recorded at 5 p.m. on the Calaveras Fault was about 5 miles east-northeast of San Martin, 8.7 miles north-northeast of Gilroy and 6.8 miles east of Morgan Hill, according to the USGS website.

The earthquake struck at a depth of about 4.7 miles — did YOU feel it? Folks in Gilroy, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Morgan Hill, San Martin, Soquel and Santa Rosa reported experiencing it.

Calaveras Fault

The last notable earthquake produced on the Calaveras Fault was on the northern end in October 2007: the 5.5-magnitude Alum Rock earthquake, which ruptured to the south, officials state on the USGS website.

The southern half of the central segment of the Calaveras Fault has historically been the most seismically active segment, producing the 6.2-magnitude Morgan Hill earthquake in 1984 and a 6.2-magnitude earthquake in 1911, according to USGS.

The 5.9-magnitude Coyote Lake earthquake in 1979 ruptured slightly to the south of the other temblors.

Image via USGS