5.8-magnitude earthquake hits north California coast
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the north California coast on Sunday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The agency said the quake hit an area about 86 kilometres west of the community of Petrolia at about 8pm and reached more than a mile deep.
USGS sent a tweet about it quicker than usual. This 5.9 was a slow roller. #earthquake#NorCal#HumboldtCounty#Eurekapic.twitter.com/zgRUVIYpgt
— Paul Bugnacki, LCSW (@PBugnacki_LCSW) March 9, 2020
NBC reported that residents of Eureka and nearby Arcata had felt weak to moderate shaking.
The National Weather Service’s US Tsunami Warning System said there was no danger of a tsunami from the quake.
Authorities reported no injuries or major damage.
But it comes just a few days after researchers warned that a “major seismic hazard” further south could devastate the city of San Diego.
Scientists said the Rose Canyon fault, which runs through the heart of the city, had been underestimated.
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They said that a 6.9 magnitude quake is possible and if it happened it could spark hundreds of fires, damage 120,000 buildings, make thousands of people homeless and swamp emergency services.
The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute spent five years studying the likely effects of a tremor.
They found that the airport, old town and downtown areas of San Diego could suffer “major geologic ground failure and ground shaking hazards resulting in severe seismic damage consequences”.
