Shallow M3.9 Earthquake hit near Dublin in The United States on Monday Evening.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on March 18th, 2025. Last updated March 27th, 2025.

A shallow MAG-3.9 earthquake struck under land 3 miles from Dublin in The United States in the evening of Monday March 17th, 2025. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. Around 9 million people have been exposed to shaking.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in The United States, 3 miles (5 km) west of Dublin in California. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 7 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Mar 17, 2025 07:46PM (Los Angeles Time) 9 days ago - Mar 18, 2025 02:46 Universal Time.
Location:	3 mi west of Dublin, California, The United States. Coordinates 37°42'26"N 121°59'39"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 3.9 Detected by 60 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.2 .
Depth:	7 mi (11 km) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake in a coastal area, it appears to have occurred under land (10 mi from the sea) with a magnitude that is usually not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 9 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 9 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is IV, which corresponds with light shaking and likely no damage. Roughly 856,300 people are expected to be exposed to this level. The majority of people (roughly 6.2 million) live in an area exposed to level I, where not noticeable and no damage is expected.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
6,200,000	I	Not noticable	None
3,702,000	II	Very weak	None
4,203,000	III	Weak	Probably none
856,300	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in The United States . Dublin in California, The United States is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 3 miles (5 km) west of Dublin. Dublin experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. San Jose is located 26 mi to the south-southeast and experienced an intensity of II (very weak shaking, no damage). San Francisco is located 24 mi to the west and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Hayward is located 6 mi to the west-southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
3 mi (5 km) E from epicenter	Dublin California, The United States.	IV Light
5 mi (8 km) N from epicenter	San Ramon California, The United States.	IV Light
5 mi (8 km) W from epicenter	Castro Valley California, The United States.	IV Light
6 mi (9 km) WSW from epicenter	Hayward California, The United States.	IV Light
7 mi (11 km) W from epicenter	Ashland California, The United States.	IV Light
7 mi (12 km) ESE from epicenter	Pleasanton California, The United States.	III Weak
7 mi (12 km) WSW from epicenter	San Lorenzo California, The United States.	IV Light
8 mi (13 km) S from epicenter	Union City California, The United States.	III Weak
8 mi (13 km) N from epicenter	Danville California, The United States.	III Weak
9 mi (14 km) W from epicenter	San Leandro California, The United States.	III Weak
11 mi (18 km) S from epicenter	Fremont California, The United States.	III Weak
12 mi (19 km) NW from epicenter	Moraga California, The United States.	III Weak
12 mi (20 km) S from epicenter	Newark California, The United States.	III Weak
12 mi (20 km) E from epicenter	Livermore California, The United States.	II Weak
14 mi (23 km) NNW from epicenter	Lafayette California, The United States.	III Weak
14 mi (23 km) NNW from epicenter	Walnut Creek California, The United States.	III Weak
16 mi (25 km) NW from epicenter	Orinda California, The United States.	III Weak
16 mi (25 km) WNW from epicenter	Alameda California, The United States.	III Weak
17 mi (27 km) WNW from epicenter	Oakland California, The United States.	III Weak
17 mi (27 km) NNW from epicenter	Pleasant Hill California, The United States.	III Weak
18 mi (29 km) SW from epicenter	Foster City California, The United States.	III Weak
18 mi (29 km) SSW from epicenter	East Palo Alto California, The United States.	II Weak
19 mi (30 km) N from epicenter	Concord California, The United States.	III Weak
19 mi (31 km) NW from epicenter	Berkeley California, The United States.	II Weak
20 mi (32 km) SSE from epicenter	Milpitas California, The United States.	II Weak
20 mi (32 km) SSW from epicenter	Palo Alto California, The United States.	II Weak
20 mi (32 km) SW from epicenter	San Carlos California, The United States.	III Weak
21 mi (33 km) SSW from epicenter	Menlo Park California, The United States.	II Weak
21 mi (33 km) WSW from epicenter	San Mateo California, The United States.	III Weak
21 mi (33 km) SW from epicenter	Redwood City California, The United States.	II Weak
22 mi (36 km) NE from epicenter	Brentwood California, The United States.	II Weak
23 mi (37 km) SSW from epicenter	Mountain View California, The United States.	II Weak
23 mi (37 km) NNE from epicenter	Pittsburg California, The United States.	II Weak
23 mi (37 km) NNE from epicenter	Antioch California, The United States.	II Weak
23 mi (37 km) NNW from epicenter	Martinez California, The United States.	III Weak
23 mi (37 km) W from epicenter	South San Francisco California, The United States.	III Weak
24 mi (38 km) W from epicenter	Mission District California, The United States.	III Weak
24 mi (38 km) WSW from epicenter	San Bruno California, The United States.	III Weak
24 mi (38 km) WNW from epicenter	Chinatown California, The United States.	III Weak
24 mi (38 km) W from epicenter	San Francisco California, The United States.	III Weak
24 mi (38 km) S from epicenter	Sunnyvale California, The United States.	II Weak
24 mi (39 km) S from epicenter	Santa Clara California, The United States.	II Weak
25 mi (40 km) NW from epicenter	Richmond California, The United States.	II Weak
25 mi (41 km) W from epicenter	Daly City California, The United States.	III Weak
26 mi (42 km) SSE from epicenter	San Jose California, The United States.	II Weak
27 mi (43 km) S from epicenter	Cupertino California, The United States.	II Weak
31 mi (50 km) NNW from epicenter	Vallejo California, The United States.	II Weak
31 mi (50 km) E from epicenter	Tracy California, The United States.	II Weak
37 mi (60 km) N from epicenter	Fairfield California, The United States.	II Weak
42 mi (68 km) ENE from epicenter	Stockton California, The United States.	II Weak
55 mi (88 km) E from epicenter	Modesto California, The United States.	I Not felt
172 mi (277 km) NE from epicenter	Reno Nevada, The United States.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is IV.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 1 smaller aftershock was detected. At a distance of 0.3 mi (0.5 km) east-northeast of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 2 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 2.9

In the days before this main shock, 1 smaller foreshock was detected. Roughly 22 hrs before this earthquake, a foreshock measuring MAG-2.9 was detected nearby this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Foreshock	M 2.9	22 hrs earlier Mar 16, 2025 09:19PM (Los Angeles Time)	16 mi (26 km) N from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 3.9	Mar 17, 2025 07:46PM (Los Angeles Time)	-
Aftershock	M 2.9	2 hrs later Mar 17, 2025 09:46PM (Los Angeles Time)	0.3 mi (0.5 km) ENE from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since March 17th, 2025, when a 4.2 magnitude earthquake hit 134 mi (215 km) further north-northwest. An even stronger magnitude 6 earthquake struck on July 8th, 2021.

In total, 120 earthquakes with a magnitude of 3.9 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 30 days.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	This earthquake appears to have struck on land near a coastal area (10 mi from the sea).	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 3.9. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 7 mi (11 km). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 27/03/25 00:08 (16 hours ago). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.