7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Northern California, Prompting Tsunami Warning

A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Northern California on Thursday morning, shaking a wide region and sending residents scrambling for cover. The quake hit at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a coastal city in Humboldt County, around 130 miles from the Oregon border.

The tremor was felt as far south as San Francisco, over 270 miles away, with residents reporting a rolling motion that lasted several seconds. The earthquake prompted a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along nearly 500 miles of coastline, extending from California’s Monterey Bay to the Oregon border.

While the quake rattled buildings and caused some disruption, no major injuries or damage have been reported. However, several smaller aftershocks followed. Julie Kreitzer, the owner of Golden Gait Mercantile in Ferndale, described the experience as intense: “It was a strong quake, our building shook, we’re fine but I have a mess to clean up right now.”

The tsunami warning was lifted after approximately an hour, with no significant wave activity recorded.