7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Off Northern California Triggers Tsunami Warnings

Dec 5, 2024, 07:34 PM

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude initially reported as 6.6 but later revised to 7.3 struck off the coast of Northern California on Thursday morning, prompting tsunami warnings for parts of California and Oregon. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake occurred at approximately 10:44 a.m. local time, with the epicenter located about 45 miles southwest of Eureka and 40 miles west-northwest of Petrolia in Humboldt County. Authorities issued tsunami warnings along the California and Oregon coastlines, including the San Francisco Bay Area, with estimated arrival times for various locations. Residents were urged to evacuate inland and to higher ground as the National Weather Service warned that tsunami waves could reach the coast within an hour. The tsunami warnings, which lasted approximately 64 minutes, were canceled by the National Tsunami Warning Center, and no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries were reported.