A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California on Thursday morning, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.
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The earthquake’s epicenter was located near Petrolia in Humboldt County, prompting the National Tsunami Warning Center to issue a tsunami warning for parts of California and Oregon, including San Francisco.
The warning, which covered areas from Davenport, California, to Douglas/Lane Line, Oregon, was canceled just before noon local time.
The National Tsunami Warning Center posted on X: “The tsunami warning is canceled for the coastal areas of California and Oregon. No tsunami danger presently exists for this area.”
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In Berkeley, California, officials briefly ordered evacuations in parts of West Berkeley due to tsunami concerns. The order was lifted shortly after the warning was canceled.
City officials announced: “Evacuation orders for West Berkeley have been lifted. It is safe to return to the area.”
The earthquake, reported at 10:44 a.m. local time, has triggered over 30 aftershocks in the region, including a 4.3 magnitude quake near Petrolia, according to the USGS.
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Stephen DeLong, a geologist with the USGS Earthquake Science Center, described the aftershock sequence as “robust” during a press briefing.
USGS officials warned of a 5% chance of a magnitude 6 or larger earthquake occurring within the next week and a 34% chance of a magnitude 5 quake in the same timeframe.
While no injuries have been reported, minor damage has been confirmed in Humboldt County. Reports include roof damage in Ferndale, road cracks, and a resolved gas leak at a middle school in Rio Dell, city officials said.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to ensure resources are available for response efforts.
“Damage assessments are underway,” Newsom said, emphasizing the state’s preparedness.
Shake alerts from the USGS’s earthquake early warning system were sent to over 500,000 people, spanning from Lincoln City, Oregon, to Salinas, California.
“The system was activated and performed as designed,” the USGS confirmed.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the earthquake. According to White House spokesperson Jeremy Edwards: “Senior Administration and FEMA Regional officials are in touch with state and local counterparts in California and Oregon. We stand ready to provide further support as needed—at this time, there are no requests for federal assistance.”
USGS officials advised residents to prepare for aftershocks in the coming days and weeks, emphasizing the importance of staying vigilant.
