A magnitude 7.0 earthquake shook Northern California early Thursday, triggering a brief tsunami warning that led to evacuations along the coast and in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The earthquake struck at 10:44 a.m. local time, centered about 100 km northwest of Ferndale in Humboldt County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Initially reported as a magnitude 6.6, it was later upgraded to 7.0. The quake’s focus was shallow, at a depth of just 0.6 km.
Over 5 million Californians were under a tsunami warning issued by the National Weather Service minutes after the quake. The warning extended from the Oregon state line down to the San Francisco Bay Area but was canceled around noon after no significant tsunami was recorded.
Residents reported feeling strong shaking up and down the Northern California coast and into the Central Valley. The USGS received more than 1,500 reports from people who felt the quake.
“It definitely got our attention,” said Caroline Titus, a longtime resident of Ferndale. “We’ve experienced many quakes, but this one was particularly strong.”
Despite the intensity, there were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries. In Ferndale, items fell from store shelves, but the town’s historic Main Street remained intact.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino counties to support emergency response efforts.
Several smaller aftershocks were recorded throughout the day. Power outages affected around 1,000 customers, and authorities continued to assess damage.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
