San Francisco Bay Area Quake Warning: Two Potentially Deadly Earthquake Faults Found To Be Connected

The most dangerous earthquake fault also referred to as Hayward Fault in San Francisco Bay Area is found to be connected to Rodgers Creek Fault. This could result in major devastation or produce a magnitude 7.4 earthquake, according to a new study.

The Hayward Fault pass by closely populated neighborhood east of San Francisco. This dangerous earthquake fault is connected to the Rodgers Creek Fault that stretches over 115 miles together. They run from the wine country northwest of the bay and go on under the bay waters directly into Oakland in the east bay. This ends just north of San Jose. The researchers said that when this connected earthquake fault slips, this could lead to a major quake disaster with a magnitude of 7.4 earthquake. This would be the 5th largest earthquake in California and would likely be severe and deadly. The team said that this could happen and might occur in the next 30 years, according to Popular Mechanics.

David Ponce, one of the researchers and a geologist said that the connecting faults are a big deal because the longer a fault stretches, the bigger the magnitude of an earthquake it can produce. He further said that they have just doubled the length of this fault. He added that the combined fault zones are considered one of the most dangerous earthquake risks in the nation.

Daily Mail reports that the projected earthquake would be over five times stronger than the 1989 Loma Prieta quake on the San Andres Fault. More than 60 people were killed and damaged the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge during this quake. It is reported that there hasn't been a major earthquake on the Hayward Fault for over 140 years. "This should be a reminder that folks in the Bay Area need to be prepared for a major earthquake," said Jane Watt, USGS geophysicist.