A magnitude 7 earthquake struck off the northern California coast on Thursday, prompting evacuations in coastal towns before a tsunami warning was canceled.
The quake occurred at 10:44 a.m. Pacific Time (1:44 p.m. ET) at a shallow depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), with its epicenter located 39 miles (63 km) west of Ferndale, a small town in Humboldt County. Despite the intensity, no fatalities or injuries were reported, and early assessments indicated no major structural damage.
Immediate Aftermath and Local Impact
In Ferndale, a town of 1,400, residents cleaned up after the quake left shelves emptied and merchandise scattered. Troy Land, a local hardware store owner and volunteer firefighter, described the quake as “a big one” that prompted immediate evacuation of buildings.
North of Ferndale in Eureka, minor disruptions included merchandise knocked off shelves, though no significant damage was reported, according to fire department official Talia Flores.
In San Francisco, where the quake was not felt, some residents received tsunami alerts. Hospitality worker Nicole Steinberg recounted relocating to higher ground at Salesforce Park after receiving a warning.
Tsunami Warning and Evacuations
The tsunami warning, which affected about 4.7 million residents across 500 miles (800 km) of California and Oregon’s coastline, was lifted approximately 90 minutes after the quake. Evacuation orders in low-lying areas, including parts of Berkeley, were downgraded to “situational awareness.”
Statewide Response
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to assist impacted areas and expressed concern for communities in Humboldt, Mendocino, and Del Norte counties. “This serves as a reminder of the importance of earthquake preparedness,” Newsom said.
Early damage assessments are ongoing as authorities continue to monitor the situation.
