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Multiple stores report having to close to repair damage in the wake of the 7.0 earthquake in California on Thursday. The entire San Francisco Bay Area had been placed under a tsunami warning after the quake at around 11 a.m. local time, sparking mass evacuations and long lines of traffic as people fled for higher ground. The warning has since been lifted. Bay Area Rapid Transit Network (BART) and MUNI, which suspended services immediately after the quake, have also resumed services. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred 100 kilometers southwest of Ferndale at a depth of 10 kilometers. Social media users have shared the images of the damage left by the earthquake. While there have been no reports of major structural damage, businesses share pictures of broken glass, ruined products and messy aisles.
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Dec 05, 2024 at 05:56 PM EST
Californian residents feared the quake was ‘The Big One’
A resident in Ferndale, California said they feared today's 7.0 earthquake was "The Big One."
"You always have that split second where you are assessing, is this a little one, a moderate one, a big one? And after that split second, I thought, 'This is the big one,'" Caroline Titus told NBC News.
The Big One refers to a potential magnitude 8.0 earthquake that could devastate California, along the San Andreas Fault. The seismic events happen every couple of hundred years. The last Big One occurred in San Francisco in 1906, but seismologists warn that the southern region of the San Andreas Fault is overdue.
Dec 05, 2024 at 05:44 PM EST
L.A. is ‘overdue for The Big One,’ warns seismologist after today’s quake
A seismologist has warned that the L.A. is "overdue" for The Big One - a massive earthquake expected to devastate California.
Chris Goldfinger, a geologist and seismologist, appeared on CNN after the San Francisco Bay Area was rocked by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
He explained that today's quake occurred in the northern half of the infamous San Andreas fault.
But the southern half "may well be a bit overdue," he said, referring to The Big One.
"Definitely the southern part, and the L.A. area is considered by most people to be either due or a bit overdue."
Dec 05, 2024 at 05:31 PM EST
Biden briefed on the earthquake
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President Joe Biden has been briefed on the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in California, a White House spokesperson confirmed.
Jeremy Edward said that Biden had directed Senior Administration and FEMA Regional officials to get in touch with their state and local counterparts in California and Oregon.
"We stand ready to provide further support as needed — at this time there are no requests for federal assistance," he said.
Dec 05, 2024 at 05:23 PM EST
At least 17 earthquakes or aftershocks have hit California today
Today's 7.0-magnitude earthquake was one of at least 17 that shook California today.
The San Francisco Bay Area has been hit by multiple aftershocks, following the big quake today.
A 5.0-magnitude quake was recorded in the Ferndale area, in Humboldt County, which has seen at least four earthquakes or aftershocks today.
At least ten were also recorded in the town of Petrolia, with magnitudes between 3.1 and 4.2, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Dec 05, 2024 at 05:07 PM EST
Seismologist explains why this type of earthquake is unlikely to trigger a tsunami
Chris Goldfinger, a geologist and seismologist, told CNN during an appearance this afternoon, that this type of earthquake had been unlikely to cause a tsunami.
Goldfinger said that the quake, which occurred on the Mendocino triple junction - where the Gorda plate, the North American plate, and the Pacific plate meet, had been a result of plates slipping side by side, rather than up and down which can trigger a tsunami.
It has "very little chance of creating a tsunami from this type of earthquake," he added.
Dec 05, 2024 at 04:57 PM EST
Gov. Newsom signs state of emergency declaration
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Gov. Gavin Newsom said he signed a state of emergency declaration after the Californian earthquake today.
During a speech today, he said he was "concerned about damage, particularly in the northern part of the state."
Newsom said that assessments into the scale of the damage were currently underway.
"It's 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 the state of California, in terms of being prepared for earthquakes," Newsom said.
Dec 05, 2024 at 04:48 PM EST
More footage from inside an 1890 inn shows smashed bottles after earthquake
Footage from inside the Historic Victorian Inn, Ferndale, California, showed the damage left by the earthquake.
Smashed bottles and spilled alcohol covered the floor behind the bar of the 1890 inn, in the video shared on X by Heidi Hatch of KUTV.
Dec 05, 2024 at 04:35 PM EST
Map shows areas of California impacted by 7.0 earthquake
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A map provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) shows the nearly 600 miles of northern California and southern Oregon coastline impacted by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that rattled the region on Thursday afternoon.
The earthquake hit offshore Cape Mendocino at approximately 1:45 p.m. local time. In the nearly two hours since, multiple aftershocks have also occurred in the region. According to USGS data, the strongest aftershock was a 4.5-magnitude earthquake that hit Ferndale, California, at around 3:40 p.m.
Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that follow a larger earthquake.
"Aftershocks tend to occur for weeks to months after the initial earthquake," James Bourke, a post-doctoral fellow at the Rutgers University Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, previously told Newsweek.
Read in full from Anna Skinner on Newsweek.
Dec 05, 2024 at 04:21 PM EST
Earthquake damage revealed on social media
Several stores reported damage after California was hit with a 7.0 earthquake on Thursday.
Images, shared on social media, show messy shelves, broken glass and spilled food and drink on the floor after the quake and aftershocks.
Some businesses, such as Shelter Cove General Store, more than 200 miles north of San Francisco, announced they were "closed until further notice."
Dec 05, 2024 at 04:10 PM EST
Evacuating California residents were caught in standstill traffic
Residents evacuating the earthquake in California were caught in long lines of traffic.
Millions in the San Francisco Bay Area had been placed under a tsunami warning after the 7.0 quake and many towns, including Eureka, were evacuated.
Footage of the highways, shared on social media, shows long lines of traffic stuck in a standstill.
"Traffic is so bad that food vendors have come out to feed people," one person said on social media.
Dec 05, 2024 at 03:58 PM EST
Public transit resumes in San Francisco Bay Area
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and MUNI announced that all services have resumed.
However, travelers are warned to expect system-wide delays.
Dec 05, 2024 at 03:57 PM EST
Large aftershocks unlikely, seismologist says
Aftershocks continue to occur near the epicenter of Thursday's earthquake, but seismologist Jeffrey Park told CNN that it is unlikely there will be another earthquake of similar magnitude. While the earthquake has redistributed stress along nearby fault lines, Park noted that smaller earthquakes may still occur as a result.
"Some of the earthquake faults could get better in the region very close to where the rupture occurred. But also in some of the other faults that are maybe even on shore could have earthquake activities. Smaller earthquakes, but because they might occur on land would be more damaging to the buildings above them," Park told the publication.
Dec 05, 2024 at 03:48 PM EST
Millions were under tsunami warning
Following the magnitude 7.0 earthquake, at least 5.3 million people in California were under a tsunami warning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey in a yellow notice that anticipates localized but modest harm.
The USGS estimates that more than 1.3 million people resided close enough to the quake to feel it.
Dec 05, 2024 at 03:23 PM EST
No significant damage reported in Eureka, California
The city manager of Eureka, California, which was near the epicenter of the earthquake, said he has not any received reports of significant damage.
Miles Slattery told CNN that parts of the town had been evacuated due to the tsunami warning, although this has now lifted.
He said due to the evacuation, there had been little time for officials to go out and asses the damage themselves, but he added that they had not received "anywhere near the structural damage that we had in the previous [earthquake]."
Dec 05, 2024 at 03:14 PM EST
Gamblers bet on whether downtown San Francisco would be flooded by tsunami after earthquake
Gamblers on Polymarket began betting on whether downtown San Francisco would be flooded by tsunami moments after the area was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
At just after 2.30 p.m. ET odds of the area being hit with a tsunami soared to 70%.
They have since dropped to 1% after the tsunami warning was ended.
Dec 05, 2024 at 03:12 PM EST
Power outages reported as a result of quake
More than 10,000 customers in Humboldt County, California, are currently without power following Thursday's earthquake, as reported by PowerOutage.us. This represents approximately 10% of the county's total customers tracked by the service.
Power outages have not been reported in neighboring counties.
Dec 05, 2024 at 03:07 PM EST
Social media users shared footage of their homes and backyards shaking during the 7.0 quake.
Social media users shared footage of their homes and backyards shaking during the 7.0 quake.
One user shared footage of their flooded backyard after he said the earthquake shook the water out of their pool.
"Definitely felt that #earthquake here in California. Felt like I was hammered I was swaying so bad, and it shook a bunch of the water out of our pool!" they wrote on X.
Dec 05, 2024 at 03:02 PM EST
How California’s quake compares with earthquakes around the world
Information is still coming in about the impacts of today's 7.0 earthquake in California. But quakes of a similar magnitude around the world have caused devastating damage.
The 7.0 earthquake in Haiti in 2010 killed nearly 160,000 and left millions homeless. The damage was heightened because it hit in a densely populated area with poor building regulations and infrastructure.
However, today's pales in comparison with the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami, in Indonesia, which was a much bigger magnitude, 9.1–9.3, and causes 230,000 deaths across 14 countries.
Comparison with Other Notable Earthquakes:
The 2010 Haiti Earthquake
- Magnitude 7.0
- This earthquake hit near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and caused catastrophic damage, killing over 160,000 people and leaving millions homeless. The major impact came from the earthquake's proximity to a densely populated area and the poor building infrastructure.
The 1999 İzmit Earthquake (Turkey)<
- Magnitude: 7.4
- This earthquake struck northwestern Turkey, including the densely populated city of İzmit, causing widespread destruction and 17,000 deaths. The quake lasted just 37 seconds, but it caused massive damage to buildings and infrastructure, leading to a significant loss of life and economic hardship.<<
The 2008 Sichuan Earthquake
- Magnitude 7.9
- The Sichuan quake killed nearly 90,000 people and caused widespread devastation.
The 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami (Indonesia)
- Magnitude: 9.1–9.3
- This earthquake, one of the largest ever recorded, triggered a massive tsunami that affected countries bordering the Indian Ocean, including Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, and others. It caused over 230,000 deaths across 14 countries, widespread destruction and remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. The tsunami waves reached up to 100 feet high in some areas.
The 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake (Japan)
- Magnitude: 9.0
- Approximately 16,000 deaths and over 2,500 missing after this earthquake, followed by a powerful tsunami, caused massive destruction in northeastern Japan. The tsunami caused extensive damage to coastal areas and led to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. It was one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded, with far-reaching consequences for Japan and global nuclear energy policy.
The 2011 Christchurch Earthquake
- Magnitude 6.3
- A smaller quake than 7.0, but it was deadly because of its shallow depth and proximity to the city. It killed 185 people and caused widespread destruction.
Dec 05, 2024 at 03:00 PM EST
BREAKING: Tsunami warning has lifted
It is being reported that the tsunami warning has been lifted, the NWS tsunami warning coordinator confirmed with NBC News.
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:55 PM EST
California residents react to earthquake and tsunami warning
Asocial media user posted a video of waves in her pool following an earthquake in California on Thursday.
Authorities in San Francisco and other northern California communities issued a tsunami warning after a 7.0 earthquake was reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The X, formerly Twitter, user, @anatlus89, posted a video that she called "crazy." The waves are still active 10 minutes after the earthquake, she wrote.
"Since when is our pool a wave pool omg this is crazy. It's still rolling 10 min later there's apparently a 6.0 near the coast 😬 #earthquake #california," @anatlus89 posted to X.
Read the full story by Monica Sager on Newsweek.
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:54 PM EST
Tsunami warning remains in effect
The issued tsunami warning is still in effect for the U.S. coast from Davenport, California to around the area of Florence, Oregon, the Tsunami Warning System reports.
Tsunami risk is being assessed for additional North American Pacific coasts, including the US and Canada, it added.
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:52 PM EST
UC Berkeley not expecting impacts for now
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A spokesperson from UC Berkeley told Newsweek that the campus is "not aware of any impacts" from the tsunami following the major earthquake, but that they are "assessing."
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:47 PM EST
Newsom asks Californians to follow safety guidelines
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is encouraging residents to "follow guidance from local emergency responders."
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:45 PM EST
Watch footage of pool watcher sloshing over 10 minutes after earthquake
An X account shared a video of the water inside a pool sloshing over 10 minutes after the Northern California earthquake happened.
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:44 PM EST
How does today’s quake compare to other U.S earthquakes?
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Today's 7.0 earthquake is considered a "major" quake which can cause widespread damage and often casualties, particularly near the epicenter.
Notable U.S. Earthquakes of Similar Magnitude:
The 1994 Northridge Earthquake (California):
- Magnitude: 6.7, but close in intensity to a 7.0 earthquake.
- Damage: It caused extensive damage in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, leading to 57 deaths and billions of dollars in damage.
The 1999 Hector Mine Earthquake (California):
- Magnitude: 7.1
- Damage: It was located in a sparsely populated area, but it was felt across Southern California, with minimal damage but widespread shaking.
The 2011 Mineral, Virginia Earthquake:
- Magnitude: 5.8 (though smaller in magnitude, it had a large impact on the East Coast)
- It caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure in Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas, though the magnitude was lower. It shows that the damage from a 7.0 quake would be much more severe.
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:43 PM EST
People gather to watch tsunami come in
Crowds have gathered on high ground to watch the tsunami flood into the San Francisco area.
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:40 PM EST
Tsunamis cannot be predicted – so how can there be a warning?
Scientists cannot predict the exact timing or location of the next tsunami, but tsunami warning centers can identify earthquakes that may trigger one, NOAA reports. These centers rely on a network of deep-ocean and coastal sea-level monitoring systems to detect tsunamis and assess their potential impact on coastal areas. This data helps authorities make informed decisions about evacuation and other responses.
Since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, tsunami warning systems have seen significant improvements. NOAA researchers continue to refine these systems, aiming to enhance the accuracy of warnings and help communities better prepare for potential threats.
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:38 PM EST
Guidance on what to do in the event of a tsunami
Here is what to do in the event of a tsunami:
- Stay Alert: If you're in a coastal area and feel an earthquake or hear a tsunami warning, take immediate action. Earthquakes are a common precursor to tsunamis.
- Move to Higher Ground: Head to higher ground or an inland area, away from the coastline. A distance of at least one mile or 100 feet of elevation is recommended, if possible.
- Follow Evacuation Orders: Pay attention to local authorities, especially if they issue evacuation orders. They will provide guidance on the safest routes.
- Avoid Beaches and Shorelines: If you are near the beach and feel an earthquake, immediately move away from the shoreline. Tsunamis can arrive within minutes, with waves that may not be immediately obvious.
- Wait for the All-Clear Signal: After reaching safety, wait for official instructions before returning to lower ground. Tsunami waves can arrive in multiple surges, sometimes hours apart.
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:36 PM EST
Gov. Newsom briefed on quake
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the earthquakes, per a post from his press office.
Newsom is "now meeting with state emergency officials and working to ensure Californians are safe."
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:35 PM EST
BART suspended through underwater tunnel
The Bay Area's rapid transit network (BART) has suspended service in certain areas as a precaution after the 7.0 earthquake.
The BART network through the underwater tunnel that connects San Francisco and Oakland is down until further notice
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:34 PM EST
Evacuation order in place in Berkley, California
The Berkley Police Department has issued an evaluation order due to the tsunami warning in place.
"We have issued an Evacuation Order due to a Tsunami coming to West Berkeley," the report said.
The tsunami zone includes:
- Berkeley Waterfront
- Tom Bates Fields
- West Frontage Road
- I80 Freeway
- Aquatic Park
- Harrison, Gilman, Camelia, and Page, West of 5th St
- Jones, Cedar, Virginia, and Delaware, West of 6th St
- Hearst, West of 5th St
- University and Addison, West of 4th St
- All areas West of 3rd St
- Potter and Folger, West of 7th St
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:33 PM EST
Nearly eight million people under tsunami warning after earthquake
The National Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami warning for the San Francisco Bay Area after a 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California around midday on Thursday.
The National Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert telling people in the affected region to move to higher ground. The warning extends from Florence, Oregon, to Davenport, California.
The quake struck about 40 miles west of Petrolia, a small unincorporated community in Humboldt County just before noon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Read in full from Jon Jackson on Newsweek.
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:32 PM EST
How tsunamis are formed
A tsunami is a series of massive waves triggered by the sudden displacement of ocean water, typically caused by an underwater earthquake, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports. These waves radiate outward in all directions, sometimes spanning entire ocean basins. Unlike wind-driven waves, which only affect the ocean's surface, tsunamis travel through the entire water column, from the ocean floor to the surface.
Most tsunamis are the result of earthquakes occurring along converging tectonic plate boundaries, per NOAA. According to the Global Historical Tsunami Database, more than 80% of tsunamis since 1900 have been caused by seismic activity. However, other factors can also generate tsunamis, including underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions, certain weather events, and potentially even asteroid or comet impacts.
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:30 PM EST
San Francisco Zoo closed down due to quake
The earthquake has led to the shutdown of the San Francisco Zoo, as it reported in a post on X.
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:26 PM EST
Californians say the felt the earthquake ‘strongly’
Californians have been reacting to the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit just minutes ago.
One Oakland resident, Elai, wrote on X that they'd felt the quake "pretty strongly" in their city.
Dec 05, 2024 at 02:23 PM EST
Earthquake Alerts website crashes due to heavy traffic after 7.0 magnitude quake in California
The Earthquake Alert website has crashed due to heavy traffic after a 7.0 magnitude quake in California.
In a post on X, it confirmed a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, 68 km from Ferndale, California.
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