(BBC): A powerful earthquake of a magnitude of 7.0 was reported by the US Geological Survey off the northern California coast.
The epicenter was located approximately 418 kilometers (260 miles) north of San Francisco in Humboldt County, near Ferndale.
Around 4.7 million people in southern Oregon and northern California were initially under a tsunami warning, but it was later canceled.
Although minor damages were observed in several regions, local officials stated that no fatalities or significant structural damage had been reported.
Over 10,000 individuals were impacted by power outages, according to poweroutage.us, while the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office reported minor household damages and products falling off store shelves.
Ferndale innkeeper Olivia Cobian called the aftermath inside her establishment "a warzone," with numerous objects smashed and heavy furniture moved.
Fortuna resident Todd Dunaway described the earthquake's impact as "standing on a giant waterbed." Tension was increased by the sound of falling objects and creaking walls.
After the earthquake, Dunaway's pool continued to slosh for a few minutes, losing almost 45 centimeters (18 inches) of water. There was also little damage to his sporting goods store.
At 10:44 AM local time (18:44 GMT), the initial earthquake was followed by many aftershocks.
In reaction to the tsunami threat, cities such as Berkeley issued evacuation orders, advising citizens to go to higher ground right once.
After getting twin alerts regarding the earthquake and tsunami threat, Kayla Aihara, who was staying at a hotel in Half Moon Bay, was ordered to leave the gym for her own safety.
Before the warning was canceled, some locals gathered close to the Pacific coast to watch the waves, hoping to spot any indications of a possible tsunami.
In order to distribute resources for earthquake reaction, California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency. He also met with emergency officials to plan relief efforts.
Governor Newsom underlined the earthquake at a different event as a clear warning of California's susceptibility to seismic activity and the value of being ready.
California's coastal regions are clearly designated with signs indicating tsunami hazards, which direct locals to higher ground for evacuation.
State emergency instructions stress that tsunamis can happen minutes after a major earthquake, and the first waves may not always be the greatest.
It is advised that locals take immediate action to migrate to higher land in response to warning signs, such as rapid water retreat from the beach.
Although a magnitude 7 earthquake is rather uncommon in this location, the earthquake happened in an area where many tectonic plates intersect, rendering it susceptible to seismic activity.
Ten to fifteen earthquakes of this size happen annually over the world. According to the US Geological Survey, this was the ninth such earthquake to occur globally in 2024.
This area is prone to earthquakes; previous occurrences, such as the Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles in 1994, have resulted in substantial destruction, fatalities, and monetary losses.
Strong seismic events can be dangerous, as seen by the Northridge earthquake, which left thousands maimed and hundreds dead while causing billions of dollars in damage.
roughly 20,000 earthquakes occur worldwide each year, with an average of roughly 55 each day, according to the US Geological Survey, albeit the majority are much less severe.
