Humboldt County in Northern California is hit by a 6.2 earthquake
Northern California is hit by 6.2 earthquake that shattered windows and sent frightened locals fleeing outdoors: Sheriff says tremor was strongest he’s felt since 2010
- A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the Northern California coast on Monday, causing shaking but likely minimal damage to the sparsely populated area
- Residents in San Francisco and and as far north as Medford, Oregon could feel the earthquake
- No injuries or evacuations were immediately reported after the quake struck at 12:10 p.m. local time
- The U.S. Geological Survey estimates economic losses of less than $10 million
- The quake in Humboldt county occurred after more than 40 tremors from magnitude 3.5 to 5.8 struck the coast of Oregon earlier this month
A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck offshore in the Cape Mendocino area of Northern California, the United States Geological Service said on Monday, shattering windows and sending those affected rushing outdoors.
The quake struck at a depth of 9 km (5.6 miles) in the Pacific Ocean about 24 miles (39 km) west of the tiny community of Petrolia along the rocky wilderness of California’s Lost Coast region in Humboldt County.
It could be felt as far south as San Francisco and as far north as Medford, Oregon.
‘It was slow rolling at first, but then it really got going,’ Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal told CNN. ‘We haven’t had a shake like this since 2010.’
The quake did not trigger a tsunami warning because of the nature of the fault system from which it came, seismologist Lucy Jones posted on Twitter.
No injuries were immediately reported after the quake struck at 12:10 p.m. local time, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Samantha Karges, said in an email to Reuters.
Some buildings had minor damage including broken glass, with the contents of supermarket shelves also sent flying, but no evacuations were ordered in the sparsely populated region. Local journalist Caroline Titus, who resides in Ferndale, California, shared photos of the damage in her town on Twitter.
Workers and crews were deployed to check for damage to roadways, and two roads were closed due to rockslides caused by the shaking, Karges said.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates economic losses of less than $10 million.
Valley Grocery in Humboldt County saw many items including glass bottles shatter, moments after the quake. The owner of the store said ten volunteers showed up to help cleanup and reopen
Windows shattered during the quakes, forcing local residents in Ferndale, California, to flee outdoors. The Humboldt County Sheriff said the tremor was the strongest that he had felt since 2010
The 62. magnitude earthquake occurred just after noon and was centered off the coast about 210 miles (337 kilometers) northwest of San Francisco, just off the Cape Mendocino area. The nearest populated center, Eureka, is about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north.
Residents in Ferndale, California, walked down the city’s Main street once the earthquake was over. Many of them sought refuge outdoors, after observing many shops suffering damages during the natural disaster
A scientist in San Francisco had felt the shaking about 200 miles (320 km) away, the California Geological Survey posted on Twitter.
‘Moderate to strong shaking was recorded by the seismic network along the coast,’ a posting on the agency’s Twitter feed said. ‘The earthquake was felt in San Francisco by this CGS geologist!’
In 1992, the same region was rattled by a series of earthquakes that damaged more than 1,100 homes and businesses, destroying about 200 structures, the Los Angeles Times reported later that year.
The largest of the 1992 quakes measured 7.2, about 10 times the magnitude of Monday’s quake. A small tsunami about 2 feet (0.61 m) high was also recorded.
The Humboldt County Fire Department did not immediately respond to a request for information on whether there had been injuries or damage.
More shattered windows at Transcon Engineering on Main Street, Ferndale, California. The fire department in the area is currently helping store owners with damage inspections
The 6.8 magnitude earthquake in the county occurred following more than 40 tremors from magnitude 3.5 to 5.8 struck the coast of Oregon on December 7.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services tweeted it is ‘actively monitoring’ the situation and ‘coordinating closely with local partners in the region to protect communities from any secondary impacts’.
Humboldt County has an estimated population of 135,000 residents and is about 4,000 square miles long. It is 270 miles north of San Francisco, near California’s border with Oregon.
The earthquake in the county happened after more than 40 tremors from magnitude 3.5 to 5.8 struck the coast of Oregon on December 7.
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