Magnitude 3.9 Earthquake Rattles Central Valley Near Salinas, Hollister
RIDGEMARK, San Benito County (CBS SF) -- An earthquake registering a preliminary magnitude of 3.9 struck an area of San Benito County in the Central Valley Tuesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's automated seismograph alert network.
The quake struck at 11:17 a.m. about 18 miles east of Salinas and about 12 miles south-southeast of Hollister at an estimated depth of 3.5 miles below the earth's surface, making this a very shallow quake.
Deeper quakes are less noticeable while 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.
The earthquake was followed by a 2.6 earthquake in the same area about 45 minutes later and another 2.6 quake a little over an hour after that.
No injuries or damage were reported.
COMPLETE QUAKE COVERAGE: CBS Earthquake Resource Center
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