Monday, March 5, 2012

2.9 quake hits 8 miles north of San Francisco

A magnitude-2.9 earthquake was reported Monday morning about 8 miles northwest of San Francisco, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Update at 10:50 a.m. ET: The USGS has now downgraded the quake to a 2.9 magnitude. The initial report was 4.3, which was quickly downgraded to 4.0.

Update at 9:59 a.m. ET: Bay Area Rapid Transit trains are delayed about 10 minutes because tracks had to be inspected, the Associated Press reports.

San Francisco police officer Aldie Esparza says police communications center employees described the quake as a light swaying motion, noting the building is on rollers, the AP reports.

Update at 9:21 a.m. ET: NBC News Bay Area reports an aftershock at 9:03 a.m. ET. NBC also says the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) is reporting no delay, but will run a system check.

Update at 9:12 a.m. ET: A California Highway Patrol dispatcher says the quake was felt throughout San Francisco and as far south as Palo Alto, NBC News Bay Area reports.

The USGS says the quake hit at 8:33 a.m. ET around El Cerrito, Calif., four miles from Berkeley and 10 miles from Oakland.

There were no immediate reports of injury or damage.

In the past 10 days, there have been two earthquakes magnitude-3.0 and greater centered nearby.

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