A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck a large area of Northern California, prompting a brief tsunami warning. Approximately 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast received alerts and were advised to seek higher ground.
The earthquake occurred at 10:44 AM local time, west of Ferndale, a small town in Humboldt County, about 209 km from the Oregon border, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Shaking was felt as far south as San Francisco, approximately 435 km from the epicenter. The main quake was followed by several smaller aftershocks.
No reports of significant damage or injuries have emerged from the earthquake, which is one of the strongest in California since 2019. Five years ago, a 7.1 magnitude quake hit Ridgecrest.
The tsunami warning was in effect for about an hour, covering nearly 805 km of coastline from the Monterey Bay area in the north to Oregon.
"It was a strong earthquake; our building was shaking. We are okay, but I need to tidy up now," said Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, a store selling groceries, goods, and souvenirs, well-known in Ferndale.
In 2022, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit this region, leaving thousands without power and water.
"The northwestern region of California is the most seismically active part of the state, as three tectonic plates converge here," explained seismologist Lucy Jones on the BlueSky platform on social media.
Shortly after the earthquake, residents of Northern California received tsunami alerts from the National Weather Service, which stated: "A series of powerful waves and strong currents may strike the coastline near you. You are in danger. Move away from coastal waters. Relocate to higher ground or inland. Stay away from the coast until local authorities declare it safe to return."