6.4 magnitude earthquake leaves 2 dead, thousands without power in Northern California
Since the initial quake early Tuesday morning, over a dozen aftershocks were reported in the area and at least 11 people suffered injuries.
A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck just off the coast of Northern California early Tuesday morning.
A 6.4 magnitude earthquake shook Northern California early Tuesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and thousands remain without power in its wake.
The earthquake, which was recorded just after 2:30 a.m. PST, was centered 7.5 miles off the coast of Ferndale, a city located in Humboldt County in Northern California, USGS said. Ferndale is located about 200 miles northwest of Sacramento.
At least two deaths were reported, those being individuals ages 72 and 83, but it was unclear as of Tuesday afternoon if the deaths were directly related to the quake as the victims had suffered medical emergencies around the time the temblor occurred, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.
The earthquake left at least 11 people injured, the sheriff's office said, with injuries including at least one broken hip and a head injury. Several of the injuries were related to people falling due to the shaking.
As of Tuesday morning, just over 71,000 of the nearly 99,300 power customers in Humboldt County were without power, according to PowerOutage.US. Power was restored to all but 2,900 customers by Wednesday evening.
The historic Fernbridge, which is a 1,300-foot concrete bridge that spans over the Eel River, sustained damage from the quake. Photos shared by a North Coast News 1 reporter Austin Castro show at least two cracks in the bridge. According to Castro, the main road to Ferndale has been closed off by the California Department of Transportation as crews survey for additional damage.
"That was a big one," Caroline Titus wrote on Twitter as she shared a video of the damage the quake caused. "Power is now out in Ferndale. House is a mess."
"No power. The house is a mess. My animals are in hiding," another user wrote on Twitter. "But we're okay, kind of."
Since the initial quake, more than three dozen aftershocks, with some as powerful as 4.6 magnitude, have struck the area. California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for Humboldt County Tuesday to support emergency response, enabling the county to gain resources under the California Disaster Assistance Act.
"California stands with the people of Humboldt County and the state has moved quickly to support the emergency response underway with local and tribal partners," Newsom said in a statement Tuesday. "I thank all of the women and men who have mobilized to protect public safety and support the community at this challenging time."
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there is currently no tsunami threat associated with the earthquake.
Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app.AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Report a Typo
