A series of earthquakes struck the Bay Area and surrounding regions, with the most notable being a magnitude 4.9 quake that hit Santa Cruz County early Thursday morning. Residents from Oakland to San Francisco felt the tremors, and a stronger magnitude 5.1 earthquake was reported near Brookdale, further alarming local communities. The USGS confirmed the 5.1 quake occurred approximately 11 miles northwest of Santa Cruz, adding to the seismic activity that has shaken several cities across Northern California. Authorities are monitoring the situation for potential aftershocks.