4.6-magnitude earthquake rattles Berkeley, SF Bay Area; no major damage reported

A 4.6-magnitude earthquake shook the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area early Thursday, waking residents and triggering early warnings on mobile devices. The quake struck at 2:56 a.m. at a depth of about 7.8 kilometers, with the epicenter near the corner of Dwight Way and Piedmont Avenue, close to the UC Berkeley campus, according to initial reports cited by local media and the U.S. Geological Survey.

The tremor was felt across the Bay Area, including near the San Francisco International Airport, where an early warning app sounded on phones in the area. San Francisco Fire Department officials said there were no reports of damage or injuries in the city. They advised residents to be wary of aftershocks and to check for hazards such as gas leaks. A green alert was issued for potential shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. A tsunami was not expected.

The U.S. Geological Survey said there is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. Officials noted the quake occurred along the Hayward fault line, with ABC7 News reporting the epicenter appeared near the UC Berkeley campus. The Bay Area had a prior tremor earlier in the week—a 3.5-magnitude quake reported last Monday about five miles east of Clayton, at a depth of roughly four miles, with light shaking reported across the region.

In a broader seismic context, a separate, much larger earthquake—a 7.8 magnitude event off Russia’s east coast—occurred days later, triggering tsunami alerts in Alaska and Hawaii. That event was reported separately and did not appear to be related to the local Bay Area temblor.

Officials stressed that more updates would follow as investigators assess any potential hazards and aftershocks. Residents across the Bay Area were reminded to review emergency plans, check gas lines and electrical infrastructure, and stay alert for additional advisories as seismic activity in the region continues to be monitored.