Low-lying coastal regions were evacuated on Thursday after a strong 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck California off the northern coast, triggering a tsunami warning. Initially spanning over 500 miles (800 km) along the coastlines of California and Oregon, the warning was canceled approximately 90 minutes after the earthquake occurred at 10:44 a.m. Pacific Time (1:44 p.m. ET/1844 GMT).

Before its revocation, the warning affected about 4.7 million people. Evacuation orders were issued in northern California, including portions of Berkeley; however, they were eventually withdrawn. Many locals living near the impacted region moved to higher ground as a precaution.

Epicenter and Local Impacts of the 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake

The earthquake’s epicenter was around 39 miles (63 km) west of the Humboldt County small town of Ferndale. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). Residents in Ferndale reported things falling off shelves, and stores in adjacent Eureka had minor damage.

Although some structures sustained minor damage, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office confirmed there were no catastrophic injuries or significant damages. Brief power outages affected about 10,000 people.

Items in homes and businesses were scattered across floors, with one Ferndale resident comparing the earthquake to “standing on a giant waterbed.” Another homeowner reported extensive interior damage, describing the scene as a “warzone.”

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California Governor’s Response

In response to the earthquake, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a proclamation of a state of emergency to expedite services for affected communities. At a gathering along the US-Mexico border, Newsom stated, “This is 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 California.”

Emergency officials cautioned that the first waves following an earthquake are not necessarily the biggest, and they recommended people in tsunami zones to get familiar with evacuation routes and to be alert.

Global and Historical Context

The fact that this 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck California—one of just nine such events globally this year—highlights the ongoing seismic vulnerability of the state. Notable earthquakes in California’s past, such as the Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles in 1994, have resulted in a large loss of life and property. This incident serves as another stark reminder of the region’s continued seismic risks.

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