On Thursday morning, a large, 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Humboldt County in Northern California, triggering a tsunami warning for parts of the North Coast. The warning was eventually canceled.
According to the US Geological Survey, the quake occurred in the Pacific Ocean west of Petrolia, California, at 10:44 a.m.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization issued a tsunami warning 45 miles southwest of the northern California city of Eureka shortly after, which expired around noon.
The USGS raised the earthquake’s preliminary magnitude from 6.6 to 7.0. The epicenter appears to be at the triple junction of the Pacific, North American, and Juan de Fuca tectonic plates. The earthquake was one of the largest recorded in California in recent years.
According to the USGS, a significant aftershock struck minutes later near Cobb, California, in Lake County, with an initial magnitude of 5.8. The USGS has now downgraded it to 4.1.
In the minutes that followed, we recorded dozens of aftershocks near the 7.0 and Cobb epicenters, with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 4.2.
Residents along the Northern California coast and in the Central Valley reported feeling shaky.
Tsunami warning evacuation orders
Coastal residents on the north coast were advised to relocate to higher ground due to the tsunami warning.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office advised residents in tsunami-prone coastal areas to evacuate immediately.
San Mateo County officials confirmed that the tsunami warning had been extended to their area. People were advised to avoid beaches and coastlines.
Bay Area Rapid Transit service via the Transbay Tube was temporarily halted, but has since resumed.
Gov. Newsom issues emergency proclamation
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said he had been briefed on the earthquake and tsunami warning.
The governor was meeting with state emergency officials, according to his office, and the California Office of Emergency Services’ operations centre was activated.
Following the incident, Newsom issued an emergency proclamation.
“I am grateful for the robust system our state has in place that worked as intended today and kept people safe and informed,” the governor said in a statement.
Emergency proclamations, which are commonly issued following natural disasters such as wildfires, allow first responders to access funds and other emergency resources.