A tsunami alert issued earlier today for California has been officially canceled after a powerful earthquake struck the northern coast of the state.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit at 10:44 a.m. local time (18:44 GMT), with the epicenter located 10 kilometers deep near Petrolia in Humboldt County, northwest of San Francisco.
The initial tremor was followed shortly by a magnitude 5.8 aftershock near Cobb, along with more than a dozen smaller tremors ranging from magnitudes 2.5 to 4.3.
“Sirens wailed across several counties, phones lit up with warnings, beaches were cleared, students were let out of school, the train tunnel connecting San Francisco to Oakland was shut down, and residents hastened to the roadways” according to the New York Post.
Events that register 7.0 and up on the Richter scale are considered especially dangerous, for instance, San Francisco’s catastrophic 1906 earthquake, which claimed 3,000 lives, measured 7.9 in magnitude.
Tsunami Alert Lifted
“The tsunami warning is canceled for coastal areas of California and Oregon. There is currently no tsunami danger for this area,” the system announced in an official statement.
Fortunately, no casualties or significant damage have been reported so far. Authorities are continuing to assess the situation, ensuring infrastructure stability and urging residents to remain vigilant. Public advisories to avoid beach areas remain in effect as a precaution.
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Breaking NewsA tsunami warning has been canceled for coastal areas of California and Oregon after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Humboldt County, California
Sources : ABC News#USA #US #California #earthquake #tsunami #eureka #SanFrancisco… https://t.co/PPDaHuc0Ew pic.twitter.com/Wc6LhJhfxJ
— World Crisis Tracker (@WorldCrisi19621) December 5, 2024
How Common Are Earthquakes in California?
Earthquakes are a common occurrence in as the state lies along the western edge of the North American tectonic plate. However, tremors exceeding a magnitude of 5 are relatively rare.
. Many still recall the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which devastated the Los Angeles metropolitan area with a magnitude of 6.7, leaving 57 fatalities, thousands injured, and extensive damage.
