Earthquake Story

Two people were killed and six injured when a 6.4 magnitude Earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay area at 8:12 A.M. Monday morning PDT causing the McHenry's Auto Supply building, located at 2342 Plum St., to partially collapse.

The epicenter of the earthquake was under Hayward Hills, according to Penny Gertz, a scientist from the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park.  Gertz said the quake occurred on the Hayward Fault, which runs under the hill.

Hayward resident, Mike Beamer, whose apartment is across the street from McHenry’s, said he felt a rolling motion that lasted for about 30 seconds, with a big jolt coming in the middle.  “I was eating my breakfast when the room started rolling. I dove under the table just as I heard an explosion outside and a chunk of cement flew through my window. That’s when the screaming started across the street.”

Jennifer Temels, also a resident at the same apartment complex, said she was getting ready for work when she felt a huge blow like someone had set off a bomb causing her to fall and nearly collide into her bathroom vanity.  “It was really scary. One minute I’m putting on mascara and the next I’m laying on the floor surrounded by pieces from my tub and sink.”

“People as far south as Los Angeles and as far north as Redding felt the quake.  It was a strong one”, Gertz said.

“Twenty-one fire personnel, twelve police and five American Red Cross workers responded to the building collapse, with some arriving within four minutes of the quake”, according to Jennifer Vu, a public information officer from the Hayward Fire Department.

Three of the six people injured were hurt seriously enough to require hospitalization and were transported to Hayward General Hospital, according to Vu.  Vu also stated the names of the dead were being withheld pending notifications of families.