A earthquake of magnitude 7 impacted the coast of California and affected around 1.3 million people would have felt the movement, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Furthermore, the earthquake caused a tsunami warning that reached 5.3 million people in California and Oregon, although it was canceled some time later.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km and had its epicenter at 63 kilometers from the city of Ferndalea sparsely populated area on the north coast of California.
Nearly 19,000 homes were left without electricity in Humboldt County after the earthquake.
Later, a second smaller movement, of magnitude 5.8, was recorded in Cobb California. At the moment, there were no reports of damage from this second impact.
The quake was felt as far away as San Francisco and the Bay Area Rapid Transit District halted traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland. Furthermore, the authorities decided to evacuate the zoo of this city.
So far, there have been no reports of material damage or injuries. However, the authorities continue monitoring the situation and recommending that residents follow evacuation instructions and remain cautious against possible aftershocks.
Regarding the tsunami warning, the National Weather Service Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu explained: “Tsunami warnings mean that a tsunami with major flooding is expected or occurring. “Warnings indicate that widespread dangerous coastal flooding accompanied by strong currents is possible, which could continue for several hours after the initial wave arrives.” In any case, an hour after the earthquake, the authorities lifted the tsunami alert.
The governor of California spoke about the damage after the earthquake
The California Governor’s Office Gavin Newsom wrote on social media that the authority “is now meeting with state emergency officials and working to ensure Californians are safe.”
Later, the governor himself spoke to give a report on the situation and noted: “We are concerned about the damage, especially in the north of the state and the consequences it could have left. I declared a state of emergency that will allow us to bring the necessary resources for the affected area”.
At the same time, he remarked: “This is a new reminder of the state we live in and the reality we go through every day in California, “We are prepared for earthquakes,” he assured.
Source: Ambito
