Earthquakes in San Jose

San Jose faces high earthquake risk as the largest city in a region hemmed in by some of California's most active faults. The San Andreas Fault lies to the west, while the Calaveras and Hayward faults run to the east and north of the city, all capable of powerful earthquakes. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates a high probability of at least one magnitude-6.7 or greater quake striking the greater Bay Area within the coming decades.

The region's defining event was the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, whose magnitude-7.9 rupture on the San Andreas Fault caused heavy damage in San Jose and destroyed buildings across Santa Clara Valley. More recently, the 1989 magnitude-6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake, centered in the mountains just south of the city, killed dozens and caused widespread damage throughout the Bay Area. Much of San Jose sits on soft valley sediments that can amplify shaking and liquefy in a strong quake.