Scientists have identified a missing link connecting two major fault lines, which is believed to have the potential to cause the next major earthquake in the Bay area of San Francisco, California.

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Scientists suggest that if these two faults were to become ruptured at the same time, they could generate a potentially massive and devastating earthquake in the California region. California currently has a population of more than 7 million.

Under the eastern part of San Francisco lies the Hayward fault, which is a very densely populated area. This new study found that this fault line apparently connects with the Rodgers Creek fault line under the San Pablo Bay, which is located in the northern part of San Francisco.

Scientists have found the link between these two fault lines. According to geophysicist, Roland Burgmann from University of California, Berkeley, the existence of this continuous fault line can produce an earthquake rupture easily from either north or south, continuing straight through.

Scientists were scanning the bay for magnetic anomalies along the two fault lines when they discovered this new connection that links the two fault lines in the San Francisco area.

Based on the history of these fault lines, the Hayward fault is prone to rupturing every 140 years. Its last major earthquake occurred 148 years ago. Rodgers Creek, on the other hand, has been less active, but geologists believe that pressure is building up along this fault line.

According to the lead author of the study, geophysicist Janet Watt from the United States Geological Survey, the main issue here is that a significant amount of pressure has been accumulating on both fault lines and this massive stress can generate a major earthquake.

By combining these two fault lines, it will now measure a total of almost 190 kilometers, and if they both rupture at the same time, researchers predict a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the San Francisco Bay area.

This new study was published in the journal, Science Advances.