A minor earthquake with a magnitude of 3.9 shook San Francisco International Airport on Friday evening, causing the ground to rumble across the Bay Area. The quake, which occurred more than 8 miles below the surface of San Mateo County, was felt at around 6:30 p.m. local time. Fortunately, earthquakes of this magnitude typically result in little to no damage.
Due to the minor nature of the quake, no alerts were sent out to Californians, as is the case for quakes with a magnitude of 4.5 or greater. Local authorities have reported no damage so far, but safety inspections were conducted on infrastructure, causing some delays for travelers. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District operated trains at reduced speeds during system inspections.
San Francisco International Airport is located just a few miles away from the notorious San Andreas Fault, and engineers took extra precautions when designing its structures. The airport’s control tower, standing at 220 feet tall, incorporates state-of-the-art seismic designs and meets all FAA criteria for extreme earthquakes. It is one of the tallest structures built with a unique design to withstand violent shaking.
While California experiences thousands of earthquakes each year, only a few have a magnitude of 5.5 or greater and cause significant damage. The recent quake serves as a reminder of the ongoing seismic activity in the region.
In conclusion, the minor quake that rumbled beneath San Francisco International Airport did not result in any significant damage. The airport’s structures, including the control tower, are built to withstand earthquakes, thanks to cutting-edge seismic designs. It is essential to remain prepared and vigilant in earthquake-prone regions like California.
