Breaking: San Ramon Rocked by Strong Earthquake—Live Updates, Damage Reports & What to Do Next

A shallow magnitude-2.9 earthquake jolted San Ramon at 1:44 p.m. Saturday, 13 December 2025, shaking neighborhoods along Canyon Side Avenue and Canyon Green Drive at a depth of roughly 5 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Residents in San Ramon, Pleasanton and Dublin reported light, rolling motion but no injuries or damage. Saturday’s tremor was the strongest in a fresh swarm of at least six quakes that rattled Contra Costa County between late Saturday morning and early Sunday, with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 2.3 before the 2.9 peak. The latest burst follows a much larger swarm of more than 90 micro-quakes that began on 9 November and has continued to wax and wane beneath the East Bay Hills. Why so many quakes in San Ramon? • Complex fault geometry: The Calaveras and Greenville faults intersect beneath the city, creating a tangle of cracks that slip in short, jerky bursts rather than in a single large rupture. • Fluid-filled fractures: USGS researchers say water migrating through those faults likely lubricates small “sticky” patches, triggering repetitive shakes without a dominant mainshock. • Historical pattern: Similar swarms flared up in 1990, 2003, 2015 and 2022—none evolved into a damaging quake, but each lasted for weeks to months. What the shaking felt like More than 40 people from as far away as San Francisco filed “Did You Feel It?” reports describing weak to very light shaking—enough to rattle dishes or sway hanging plants but not strong enough to knock items off shelves. Is a bigger quake coming? Seismologists stress that swarms rarely foreshadow a major event, but they do highlight the region’s seismic restlessness. “This area keeps having earthquake swarms due to fluid-filled cracks,” USGS geophysicist Sarah Minson told local media earlier this fall, adding that the sequence could “last a couple of months, waxing and waning.” Preparedness tips for Bay Area residents 1. Drop, Cover, Hold On: During shaking, get low, shield your head and neck, and grip stable furniture. 2. Secure your space: Bolt tall bookcases, strap water heaters and anchor TVs. 3. Refresh go-bags: Keep water, medications, flashlights and portable chargers ready for at least 72 hours. 4. Enable alerts: Sign up for Wireless Emergency Alerts and install the MyShake or ShakeAlertLA apps for real-time warnings. 5. Review family plans: Identify safe spots in each room and agree on an out-of-area emergency contact. When will it end? Past San Ramon swarms have faded after several weeks. Geologists will watch for declining frequency and magnitude as signs the current sequence is tapering out. Until then, Bay Area residents should treat every rumble as a reminder to stay quake-ready. Stay updated • USGS “Latest Earthquakes” map (filters set to Northern California). • Cal OES @Cal_OES on X for statewide emergency updates. • City of San Ramon’s Nixle alerts for localized notices. Bottom line Saturday’s magnitude-2.9 quake is a wake-up call rather than a catastrophe, but it underscores why everyone living along the Calaveras Fault system should tighten preparedness plans now—before a stronger tremor eventually strikes.