According to the reports on Friday (6 December), a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Northern California on Thursday (5 December), shaking a vast area and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million residents along the U.S. West Coast. The quake occurred at 10:44 a.m. (local time) west of Ferndale, a small city in Humboldt County, about 130 miles (209 km) from the Oregon border, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The tremor was felt as far south as San Francisco, located approximately 270 miles (435 km) away. Residents in the Bay Area described experiencing a rolling motion lasting several seconds, while communities closer to the epicenter reported items being knocked off grocery store shelves and children taking cover under desks.
Despite its strength, the quake caused no major injuries or significant structural damage. Authorities noted that it was the most powerful earthquake in California since the 7.1-magnitude Ridgecrest quake in 2019. Multiple smaller aftershocks followed, keeping residents alert in the hours after the main tremor.
The tsunami warning, issued immediately after the quake, covered a 500-mile stretch of coastline but was canceled shortly after no significant tsunami activity was detected. Emergency services remained on standby as local officials assessed potential damage in the affected areas.
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