OAKLAND (California), Oct 31: A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck in a rural area, about 15km northeast of San Jose, California, Silicon Valley’s biggest city, on Tuesday night, causing minor damage.

The earthquake was felt across the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond just before 8.05pm (0305 GMT on Wednesday).

There were no immediate reports of major damage, but the San Jose Mercury News website reported phone service failed in a part of Palo Alto, home to Hewlett-Packard computer company and Stanford University.

It said the quake caused minor damage and residents poured out of apartments in downtown San Jose to survey the damage.

“It was pretty significant. You could actually hear the rumbling of the ground. It was a good shake,” said Nick Muyo, a spokesman for the San Jose Police Department.

Asked about damage, he said he knew of “nothing other than things tipping off cabinets and dressers”.

Residents of San Francisco, 80km north of San Jose, and Stockton, the same distance to the east, reported feeling Tuesday’s quake. The quake occurred at a depth of 9.2km, according to the USGS.—Reuters