A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern California, prompting an immediate tsunami warning for the coastlines of both northern California and southern Oregon. The warning, which affected approximately 4.7 million residents, was subsequently revoked. The quake's epicenter was located near Ferndale, California, a small town in Humboldt County situated approximately 260 miles (418km) north of San Francisco.
Local authorities reported no casualties or significant widespread damage following the earthquake, which is among just nine global seismic events of this magnitude recorded this year. According to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, while there was no catastrophic destruction, some homes did sustain minor damage. Numerous residents reported items falling from shelves and electricity outages that affected more than 10,000 households in the Humboldt County area after the initial quake.
Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scenes. Olivia Cobian, the innkeeper at the Gingerbread Mansion Inn in Ferndale, described interiors that looked "like a warzone," with heavy fireplaces dislodged. Todd Dunaway, who was home in Fortuna, recounted the unsettling sensation of the ground shaking beneath him. "It literally felt like standing on a giant waterbed," he said, as he nervously anticipated aftershocks. His house suffered minor damage, with boxes of shoes tumbling off store shelves and his swimming pool losing significant water due to the disturbance.
The quake struck at 10:44 AM local time (18:44 GMT) and triggered several aftershocks. Before the tsunami warning was lifted, certain areas, including Berkeley, issued evacuation orders for residents in tsunami zones, warning them to seek immediate higher ground.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who was quickly briefed on the situation, signed a state emergency declaration to facilitate resource allocation for the response efforts. He underscored the importance of preparedness in a state often affected by natural calamities like earthquakes.
As the waves calmed and alerts were rescinded, many residents are reminded of the continuous risk and encouraged to familiarize themselves with evacuation routes and readiness plans in case of future seismic events. The region is part of the seismically active US West Coast, known for significant earthquakes—a reminder of the dynamic forces shaping the Earth below. While tremors are frequent, the occurrence of a powerful 7 magnitude quake is less common, occurring roughly 10 to 15 times a year globally, according to the US Geological Survey.
