A 3.5‑magnitude earthquake struck about 2.5 miles south of Vallejo at roughly 12:41 p.m., producing several seconds of shaking felt across nearby communities including Benicia, Martinez, Richmond and Pleasant Hill. Grace Patterson Elementary was close to the epicenter, and an apartment complex about a half‑mile away reported strong rattling but no damage. Officials said more than 1,500 people reported feeling the quake and that only 4%–5% of California earthquakes are followed by a larger event, making a significant aftershock unlikely. The tremor did not trigger a MyShake alert (threshold magnitude 4.5) and was linked to the Southampton/Franklin fault area related to the 2014 Napa system.
3.5‑Magnitude Quake Shakes Area South of Vallejo; No Major Damage Reported
A 3.5‑magnitude earthquake struck about 2.5 miles south of Vallejo at roughly 12:41 p.m., producing several seconds of shaking felt across nearby communities including Benicia, Martinez, Richmond and Pleasant Hill. Grace Patterson Elementary was close to the epicenter, and an apartment complex about a half‑mile away reported strong rattling but no damage. Officials said more than 1,500 people reported feeling the quake and that only 4%–5% of California earthquakes are followed by a larger event, making a significant aftershock unlikely. The tremor did not trigger a MyShake alert (threshold magnitude 4.5) and was linked to the Southampton/Franklin fault area related to the 2014 Napa system.
09:13 AM, 11/14/2025Environment
3.5‑Magnitude Quake Rattles Vallejo Area
A 3.5‑magnitude earthquake struck about 2.5 miles south of Vallejo at approximately 12:41 p.m. on Thursday, producing several seconds of light to moderate shaking across the North Bay.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the temblor was a strike‑slip event. Reports of noticeable shaking came from nearby communities including Benicia, Martinez, Richmond and Pleasant Hill. More than 1,500 people submitted felt reports, officials said.
USGS data show Grace Patterson Elementary School in Vallejo is very near the quake's epicenter. School officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Emily Zetterholm, community director at Anchor 532 — an apartment complex about a half‑mile from the epicenter — told the Chronicle the building "seemed to shake and rattle for a few seconds," but she said there was no damage.
"Before you could really react, it was over," Zetterholm said. "But it felt very intense, kind of like from the ground, moving up."
Wendy Bohon, branch chief for seismic hazards & earthquake engineering at the California Geological Survey, said the event produced light shaking across the region. "Only 4% to 5% of earthquakes in California are followed by a larger earthquake, so it is unlikely that this is a foreshock to a larger event," she said, adding that the temblor is a reminder to be prepared.
"Drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy object and hold on until the shaking stops," Bohon advised.
The quake did not trigger a MyShake mobile alert because it fell below the app's automatic notification threshold of magnitude 4.5, according to a post by MyShake on X. Neither the California Geological Survey nor the USGS immediately pinpointed the specific fault involved. USGS spokesperson Steven Sobieszczyk said the event appeared to be associated with the Southampton/Franklin fault area — a system related to the faulting near Napa that produced the 2014 Napa earthquake — and that there was no indication the temblor was a foreshock.
"Earthquakes occur in California every day, and this quake is in line with the region's background level of seismic activity," Sobieszczyk said. Authorities reported no injuries or structural damage following the event.
What to do after feeling shaking
If you felt the quake, check yourself and others for injuries, look for hazards such as gas leaks or damaged electrical wiring, and follow local guidance. Keep emergency kits and communication plans ready — small quakes like this are a useful reminder of California's seismic risk.