Hundreds more could die from fire following an earthquake along the 52-mile fault. The Hayward fault is so dangerous because it runs through some of the most heavily populated parts of the Bay Area , spanning the length of the East Bay from the San Pablo Bay through Berkeley, Oakland, Hayward, Fremont and into Milpitas.
How bad is the Hayward fault?
The Hayward fault activity is capable of generating destructive earthquakes . This fault, called a “tectonic time bomb,” is about 74 miles long. History shows that five large earthquakes on the Hayward fault have occurred on average every 150 years—last being in 1868.
Is the Hayward fault more dangerous than San Andreas?
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — While the San Andreas fault gets much of the attention after the devastating 1906 and 1989 quakes, it’s the Hayward fault, which runs along the East Bay, that quake experts consider the most dangerous fault in America .
What kind of fault is the Hayward fault?
Detailed Mapping of the Hayward Fault
It is a right-lateral strike-slip fault , meaning that motion along it is mainly horizontal, so that objects on the opposite side of the fault from the viewer will move to the viewer’s right as slip occurs.
Why are active faults dangerous?
Active faulting is considered to be a geologic hazard and related to earthquakes as a cause . Effects of movement on an active fault include strong ground motion, surface faulting, tectonic deformation, landslides and rockfalls, liquefaction, tsunamis, and seiches.
How often does the Hayward Fault rupture?
USGS scientists have found evidence for 12 quakes on the southern Hayward Fault during the past 1,900 years. Notably, the last six quakes (in 1134, 1317, 1475, 1629, 1725, and 1868) occurred at intervals of 95 to 183 years, with an average interval of about 150 years .
How deep is the Hayward Fault?
In 2007, the Hayward Fault was discovered to have merged with the Calaveras Fault east of San Jose at a depth of 4 miles (6.4 km) , with the potential of creating earthquakes much larger than previously anticipated. Some geologists have suggested that the Southern Calaveras should be renamed as the Southern Hayward.
What is the most dangerous fault?
The research finds that the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, quakes shifted underground stresses, making the San Andreas fault —the state’s longest and most dangerous fault—three times more likely to rupture.
Why is the San Andreas fault so dangerous?
Narrator: Parts of the San Andreas Fault intersect with 39 gas and oil pipelines. This could rupture high-pressure gas lines, releasing gas into the air and igniting potentially deadly explosions . Stewart: So, if you have natural-gas lines that rupture, that’s how you can get fire and explosions.
What is the most dangerous type of fault?
Reverse faults , particularly those along convergent plate boundaries are associated with the most powerful earthquakes, megathrust earthquakes, including almost all of those of magnitude 8 or more. Strike-slip faults, particularly continental transforms, can produce major earthquakes up to about magnitude 8.
Is Hayward safe?
Is Hayward, CA Safe? The C grade means the rate of crime is slightly higher than the average US city. Hayward is in the 42nd percentile for safety, meaning 58% of cities are safer and 42% of cities are more dangerous.
How old is the Denali Fault?
The M W (moment magnitude) 7.9 Denali fault earthquake on 3 November 2002 was associated with 340 kilometers of surface rupture and was the largest strike-slip earthquake in North America in almost 150 years .
When was the last big earthquake on the Hayward Fault?
The Hayward Fault runs along the foot of the East Bay hills, something that all residents of the Bay Area, and the East Bay in particular, should know. Its last major earthquake occurred on October 21st, 1868 , destroying downtown Hayward, killing 5 people and, injuring 30.
How do you know if a fault is active?
A fault that is likely to have another earthquake sometime in the future. Faults are commonly considered to be active if they have moved one or more times in the last 10,000 years .
Which city is most likely to experience a strong earthquake?
- Manila, Philippines. ...
- Los Angeles, California. ...
- Quito, Ecuador. ...
- Osaka, Japan. ...
- San Francisco, California. ...
- Lima, Peru. ...
- Tehran, Iran. ...
- Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is positioned near the center of the North Anatolian fault zone.
Can inactive fault becomes active?
Inactive faults can become active again . In our case there are no signs of that, although UP seismologists remain observant. This diagram shows an earthquake along a fault. ... Active Faults are those faults that are still subject to Earthquakes, those that are hazards.
