Earthquake rocks San Francisco area

A substantial earthquake shook the San Francisco Bay area last night, sending frightened customers running out of businesses and rattling the stands at ice hockey and baseball games.

No injuries or significant damage were reported, but phone services were knocked out in parts of San Jose.

The quake, which had a preliminary magnitude of 5.2, caused a low rumbling in San Francisco, where it seemed to last for several seconds and get stronger as it went on.

Buildings could be heard rumbling in Watsonville, about 100 miles to the south.

The US Geological Service reported that the quake struck at 10 pm (6am Irish time) and was centred three miles southwest of Gilroy, outside San Jose.

Danny Sharma, a manager at Rodeway Inn in Gilroy, said the motel shook violently. Coffee pots and glasses were knocked from counters.

‘‘It was the worst one I’ve ever felt,’’ Sharma said. ‘‘The whole building was shaking and there was just this rumbling sound. It was a bad quake.’’

The USGS said weak to light trembling was felt for almost 200 miles north to south and about 80 miles to the east.

The quake was immediately followed by four earthquakes centred in the same area with magnitudes ranging from 1.4 to 2.5.

The first quake jolted the Compaq Centre in San Jose, where thousands were watching the San Jose Sharks play the Colorado Avalanche in a National Hockey League play-off game.

The arena’s upper stands shook strongly for about 10 seconds, and light fixtures continued to sway for several seconds afterward. The game continued uninterrupted, however.

‘‘Everything was shaking,’’ said Michel Goulet, vice president of player personnel for the Avalanche, who was sitting in the stadium’s upper level. ‘‘You start thinking, ‘Should I run or what?’ I wasn’t sure what to do.’’

But players on both teams said they did not even realise there had been a quake until they came off the ice at the end of the third period.

An earthquake on October 17, 1989, killed 63 people in the same area and caused an estimated €6.4bn in damage.