California earthquake live: Tsunami threat passes for 5 million people after quake hits California coast
More than 5 million people were put on tsunami warnings in the immediate aftermath of the quake
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Northern California was rocked by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake late Thursday morning.
After the tremor struck at 10:45 a.m., just over 60 miles to the west-southwest of Humboldt County’s Ferndale, a tsunami warning was issued for a wide swath of the West Coast. The warning extended from Oregon through central California and at least 5.3 million people in California were affected.
The warnings were canceled by the National Weather Service minutes later.
The agency estimated than more than 1.3 million people lived close enough to the quake to feel its impact. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries, but some store owners said their goods had been broken.
Olivia Cobian, the innkeeper at Ferndale’s Gingerbread Mansion, told The Los Angeles Times that her building “looked like a war zone.”
In San Francisco, the Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, experienced major delays.
The San Francisco Zoo’s visitors were evacuated, its animals were secured and staff were moved to higher ground.
Mayor London Breed activated the city’s Emergency Operations Center in response to the warnings. She advised people to move off the coast and at least one block inland.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Evacuation orders in Berkeley have been lifted
The Berkeley Police Department had told residents located west of Seventh Street to head inland immediately and to leave behind anything that was not essential.
Waves were forecast to reach the region at around noon, according to Berkeleyside.
What did the earthquake feel like?
Kaitlin Graves, an employee at the Petrolia General Store, said that the shaking was intense and lasted for just 10 seconds.
“It was a big earthquake. It was a lot of up-and-down shaking,” Graves said in a phone interview with The Los Angeles Times. “It felt like the woozy feeling you get when you’re in an elevator.”
Social media users reported feeling it much longer than that.
Photos show Californians responding to tsunami warning
USGS says the earthquake was a ‘strike-slip’
“The earthquake was primarily strike-slip, meaning two tectonic plates slid past each other,” the U.S. Geological Survey said in a post on social media.
Strike-slips are less likely to cause tsunamis because their movement is primarily horizontal with minimal vertical movement of the ocean floor.
Governor Gavin Newsom tells Californians to heed local emergency responders
California Governor Gavin Newsom said emergency officials were responding to the quake.
“Californians should follow guidance from local emergency responders,” he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments