An earthquake ruptured off California’s coast on Thursday morning, briefly triggering a tsunami warning for the coast of Northern California and southern Oregon.
The earthquake, a magnitude-7.0 temblor, rumbled at around 10:44 a.m., about 62 miles west of Ferndale, California, according to the United States Geological Survey.
A tsunami warning was issued for the coast between from Davenport, California, to the border between Douglas and Lane counties in Oregon. The Tsunami Warning Center canceled the warning at about 11:55 a.m.
The office of Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statement on Thursday saying the governor had been briefed on the quakes and tsunami warning. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has been activated to coordinate the response, the statement said.
Humboldt County, the community on land closest to the epicenter, reported no injuries or fatalities, Humboldt County District 2 supervisor Michelle Bushnell told NBC News. But she said she had heard of broken water mains, broken windows and houses off their foundation
About 10,000 people were without power in Humboldt County, according to State Sen. Mike McGuire.
Earthquakes can trigger tsunamis when they displace the seafloor, causing waves that can rush toward shore. A tsunami warning indicates that significant inundation and coastal flooding is expected, based on preliminary information about the quake’s position.
Harold Tobin, the director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, said the 7.0-magnitude temblor was a strike-slip earthquake. Strike-slip earthquakes take place when two plates slide past one another.
