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Strong earthquake hits Northern California, tsunami warning issued for over 5 million.(Photo by Ronny Adolof BUOL / AFP)
The National Weather Service lifted a tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck California on Thursday.
The quake, which affected parts of California, triggered a tsunami warning for over 5.3 million people. The U.S. Geological Survey reported minimal, localized damage, with the shaking felt as far south as San Francisco. Aftershocks followed the initial tremor, but no major injuries or damage were immediately reported.
The earthquake, which struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, California, in Humboldt County near the Oregon border, led to a tsunami warning covering nearly 500 miles of coastline from Monterey Bay to Oregon. Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile in Ferndale, described the impact: “It was a strong quake, our building shook, we’re fine but I have a mess to clean up right now. We lost a lot of stuff. It’s probably worse than two years ago.”
Authorities issued evacuation orders, urging residents to move to higher ground as a precaution. Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel reported that crews were assessing damage, but no major issues had been found so far. In Eureka schools, students were urged to take cover under desks during the quake, with many expressing fear and seeking to contact their families.
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) halted service through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland. The San Francisco Zoo evacuated visitors and moved staff to higher ground, while securing animals.
Shortly after the quake, phones in Northern California buzzed with the tsunami warning, urging people to evacuate from coastal areas until it was safe to return.
