7.0 earthquake hits California, temporarily forcing tsunami warning

December 6, 2024

Los Angeles: A 7.0 magnitude earthquake rattled parts of Northern California, leading to a brief tsunami warning that resulted in evacuations in some coastal areas and the San Francisco Bay.

The earthquake occurred offshore, approximately 100 km northwest of Ferndale, a Humboldt County city with a population exceeding 1,000, at 10:44 a.m. local time on Thursday, as reported by the US Geological Survey (USGS). Initially recorded as a 6.6 magnitude, the USGS later upgraded it to 7.0, with the epicenter located at a depth of 0.6 km.

Over 5.3 million Californians were placed under a tsunami warning issued by the US National Weather Service (NWS) shortly after the quake. However, this yellow alert indicated only localized and minimal damage potential. The warning, which extended from the Oregon state line to the San Francisco Bay Area, was lifted by the NWS around noon local time on Thursday, stating, “No destructive tsunami has been recorded.”

Residents throughout Northern California and into the Central Valley reported feeling the tremors. While about a dozen smaller aftershocks followed, there were no immediate reports of damage.