Tsunami warning for 5 million people lifted after 7.0-magnitude quake off California coast

The tsunami warning issued by the National Weather Service has been canceled

A tsunami warning affecting more than 5 million people has been lifted after a major earthquake rocked Northern California.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the tremor, with a magnitude of 7.0, hit just over 60 miles to the west-southwest of Ferndale. There were more than 30 aftershocks after the initial quake.

Residents along the coast were urged to move to higher ground after the tsunami warning was issued by the National Weather Service for parts of the California and Oregon coasts.

The service has now canceled the tsunami warning. “No tsunami danger presently exists for this area,” the agency confirmed on social media.

Dave Snider, the tsunami warning coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said that “a destructive wave is not on the table today” after the warning went out earlier, NBC News reports.

“For the U.S. West Coast, this is tricky stuff,” Snider said. “This is time-based. So we have to get that alert out, and then confirm, yes or no, that something is happening.”

Areas of the California and Oregon coast were under a tsunami warning on Thursday, which has now lifted (NOAA / National Weather Service/ US Tsunami Warning System)

The 7.0 quake was one of many seismic events that shook Northern California today.

Dozens of quakes were recorded near the town of Petrolia in Humboldt County, ranging in magnitude between 3.1 and 4.2, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and another four events were recorded today in the Ferndale area.

One social media user reported feeling the quake “pretty strongly” in Oakland, and another shared a video of the water in their swimming pool shaking.

The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management urged residents to get away from coastal areas and warned that they were “in danger” before the alert was lifted shortly after.

“A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you,” the department said on X. “You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.”

A San Francisco Surf Rescue team evacuates surfers from Ocean Beach in case of a possible tsunami on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (Benjamin Fanjoy/San Francisco Chronicle/AP)

After the tsunami alert, the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland, while San Francisco Zoo was evacuated.

The zoo said in a social media post that the animals were secured following the tsunami warning and staff were moved to higher ground as a result.

The Berkley Police Department also issued an evacuation order for those in the tsunami zone. “People in the Tsunami Zone are in IMMEDIATE DANGER and MUST EVACUATE NOW,” the police said in a since deactivated post. “Stay east of 7th St. This is a lawful order to leave now.”

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services warned that “widespread dangerous coastal flooding accompanied by powerful currents are possible” in a statement before the alert was lifted.

“Californians should follow guidance from local emergency responders. Get earthquake safety tips,” California’s governor Gavin Newsom wrote in a post on X.

Newsom later added: “It’s another reminder of the state that we live in and the state of mind that we need to bring to our day-to-day reality here in the state of California, in terms of being prepared for earthquakes.”