The shock had a moment magnitude of 6.2 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe).

Nearby communities (including Morgan Hill) sustained serious damage with financial losses of at least US$7.5 million.

Morgan Hill was the worst affected, with a number of mobile homes sliding off foundations, and moderate damage to several masonry buildings in the city.

[6] In Santa Clara County, over 550 buildings were reported to have received at least minor damage.

The outline of aftershocks show that the rupture propagated southeast over a 25 km (16 mi) section of the fault, as far as San Martin, to the location of the 1979 Coyote Lake earthquake's mainshock.